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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.

Tainted Governance

Updated: Feb 24, 2025

The Mahayuti government, which secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra’s 2024 Assembly elections, is now at risk of squandering its hard-earned mandate. With 230 out of 288 seats under its belt, it promised stability and reform. Instead, its cabinet is now mired in allegations of corruption and fraud. The conviction of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and the damning accusations against Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde, both leaders of the ruling Ajit Pawar-led NCP, have put the government in an embarrassing bind. If Mahayuti is serious about preserving its credibility, CM Devendra Fadnavis must expel both NCP leaders from the cabinet.


Kokate’s conviction is especially damning. A Nashik district court found him guilty of forging documents to illegally acquire two flats under the chief minister’s discretionary quota nearly 30 years ago. Along with his brother, he falsified records to pose as a low-income applicant. Such an act of deceit encapsulates the very rot in India’s political culture. Though he secured bail within hours and has vowed to appeal, the conviction stands. The law is clear that any public representative sentenced to two years or more in prison is ineligible to remain in office. The moral and legal imperative to remove him is unambiguous. For what message does it send if a government that promised to uphold the rule of law harbours a convicted fraudster in its ranks?


Kokate’s flippant remarks about Re 1 crop insurance scheme, likening it to alms that even beggars would refuse, angered farmers across the state. The scheme itself has been tainted by allegations of fraud, with over 400,000 applications rejected for suspected irregularities. Kokate’s failure to address these concerns meaningfully only deepened suspicions of mismanagement.


Then there is Dhananjay Munde, whose tenure as minister has been marred by the Beed sarpanch murder case. If the government cannot muster the will to remove a disgraced former minister, it risks reinforcing the opposition’s narrative that it is a syndicate of corrupt politicians rather than a coalition committed to governance.


The Congress has seized upon these scandals, with its state president, Harshwardhan Sapkal, leading the charge for Kokate and Munde’s ouster. His attacks, however opportunistic, are not without merit. The BJP, which has long fashioned itself as a crusader against corruption, now appears hesitant to clean its own house. If Mahayuti wishes to maintain its moral high ground, it cannot afford to ignore these transgressions. Maharashtra is a political bellwether state, and the 2024 Assembly election victory was a testament to the voters’ trust in the Mahayuti’s leadership. But trust is fragile. If the Mahayuti wishes to avoid irreparable reputational damage, it must act decisively and expel Kokate and Munde. A government that tolerates corruption soon becomes indistinguishable from those it once opposed. The choice before Fadnavis is clear: stand by tainted ministers and risk eroding the public’s faith, or cut them loose and reinforce his administration’s commitment to accountability. If the BJP and its allies fail to act decisively, their resounding mandate may quickly turn into an albatross.

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