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By:

Minal Sancheti

2 May 2026 at 12:26:53 pm

Funeral for animals

Mumbai: On the occasion of National Animal Rights Day, a funeral was held for all the voiceless creatures that humans have killed for selfish reasons. The act was a campaign and was a brainchild of Animal Climate and Health in collaboration with Our Planet Theirs Too. The purpose was to spread awareness about animal cruelty. The campaign took place at Carter Road Amphitheatre and so a crowd of both young and old supported the cause. Speaking about animal cruelty, recently the internet was...

Funeral for animals

Mumbai: On the occasion of National Animal Rights Day, a funeral was held for all the voiceless creatures that humans have killed for selfish reasons. The act was a campaign and was a brainchild of Animal Climate and Health in collaboration with Our Planet Theirs Too. The purpose was to spread awareness about animal cruelty. The campaign took place at Carter Road Amphitheatre and so a crowd of both young and old supported the cause. Speaking about animal cruelty, recently the internet was flooded with a viral video of a group of men at Mira Road taking a piglet to a locality where goats were brought for religious sacrifice. Aparjita Ashish, the founder and director of Animal Climate and Health said, “It is an act of cruelty to kill animals for religious sacrifice but to protest against this they were harassing a baby pig. The poor pig was screaming for his life. So how’s that right? If you want to protest, protest peacefully.” Ashish also comments on the Apex Judiciary’s decision of euthanising terminally ill dogs, “If the dog has a serious illness like rabies and is in a lot of pain, with a doctor’s permission and in a peaceful manner, they should be euthanised. The apex court also spoke about the ABC or animal birth control which if done with correct procedures, can help bring down issues related to the stray dogs. Many times the process is wrong so the animals become subject to cruelty.” She even added that the strays should not be displaced as that will leave them confused. This is also an act of ill treatment. The occasion saw a large number of gatherers. According to the campaigners, being vegan is not just for protecting animals but also for the climate. Ashish explained, “If you see the name of our NGO, it is Animal Climate and Health. So we also talk about the impact of consuming animal products on the environment.” She gives an example of how methane gas is produced because of the dairy animals and how the food and resources to breed animals are so much that it affects the environment. The supporters who participated in the campaign said they also noticed many health benefits of going vegan. Anil Nagpal, a senior citizen and volunteer with the organisation said, “For many years I was going through ill health. I tried every treatment but nothing really helped much. But then someone convinced me to go vegan and since that time my health has improved drastically. After this many people in my circles who used to eat animal products have given up.” When asked what his protein sources are, he said, “I eat lentils and legumes. Vegetables also contain protein.” Ashish claimed that humans have an ego that makes them think they are above animals.

Patole’s Pivotal Play

Updated: Nov 15, 2024

Nana Patole

One of the most closely watched contests in western Vidarbha in the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections will be in Sakoli constituency, where Nana Patole, the outspoken state Congress chief, is seeking re-election. His battle for a fourth term would be pivotal not only for his own political future but also for Congress’ staying power in Vidarbha which has witnessed a dramatic realignment of political forces in recent years.


In an eventful career of political switches, Patole had first left the Congress and joined the BJP on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and contested from Bhandara-Gondia (of which Sakoli is part of), defeating NCP heavyweight Praful Patel. Patole then famously quit the BJP in 2018 for the Congress after claiming he had been slighted by PM Narendra Modi, and then equally impulsively, stepped down as Maharashtra Assembly Speaker in 2021.


Along with Vijay Wadettiwar, Patole is the Congress’ most prominent OBC face here with a strong ground connect in rural Vidarbha. When he switched parties in 2018, he had cited his disillusionment with the BJP’s handling of issues important to farmers. Since then, he has built a staunch voter base by positioning himself as a fierce advocate for the region’s agrarian concerns.

While he won Sakoli in the 2019 Assembly polls, the current election presents a much more challenging prospect despite the Congress (and the MVA) delivering a sterling performance in this belt in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.


This time, Patole is pitted against the BJP’s Avinash Brahmankar - a former independent who has carved out a space for himself as an alternative to the Congressman. Brahmankar, it is said, has the backing of both the BJP and local anti-Congress factions. Brahmankar’s entry into the race has already galvanized the BJP’s base, which sees an opportunity to dethrone Patole, who has become something of a lightning rod for criticism from his former party and within the MVA as well.


While Patole’s position as the Congress state president and his advocacy for the OBC community are likely to keep him a formidable challenger, the BJP’s growing influence in Sakoli cannot be underestimated.

For Patole, the stakes are high. As Congress’s chief contender for the Chief Minister’s office in Maharashtra, his performance in Sakoli will shape the party’s prospects in Vidarbha – a region where the Maharashtra Congress’ strength is most concentrated.


In nearby Gondia, Patole’s influence effected a dramatic coup in getting veteran local leader Gopaldas Agrawal to rejoin the Congress after a five-year dalliance with the BJP. Agrawal, a former three-time MLA from Gondia, was promptly fielded as the MVA’s candidate where he takes on the BJP’s Vinod Agrawal.

As Agrawal seeks redemption, the Congress is bolstered by the recent joining of another former BJP local heavyweight, Shishupal Patle. Patle’s political career has seen dramatic highs and lows, including his famous 2004 defeat of Praful Patel, then the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation.


Amidst these contests, rising stars are seeking to make a lasting mark in eastern Vidarbha’s political firmament. Narendra Bhondekar, incumbent MLA of Bhandara, who joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde after jettisoning his ‘independent’ status, is seeking re-election for a third time. His advocacy for sustainable agriculture and green energy initiatives has earned him significant grassroots support. Shinde has promised Bhondekar the Guardian Ministership of Bhandara if he wins this time.


This year’s election cycle is unlike any other, with political alliances and rivalries in East Vidarbha heating up as the clock ticks relentlessly to polling day.

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