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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.

Turbulent Beginnings

It has been a month since the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government took charge in Maharashtra, basking in the glow of a landslide victory in the Assembly elections last year. But the euphoria has quickly given way to chaos. The coalition—an amalgam of the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP—has stumbled at almost every turn, grappling with infighting, delayed decisions and a lack of coordination that belies the decisive mandate it received.


The Mahayuti entered office with an unprecedented 230 out of 288 seats in the Assembly, a near-total decimation of the Opposition MVA. This mandate carried a clear message: the electorate expects decisive governance, not excuses or political squabbles. Yet, the coalition appears paralyzed by its own internal dynamics.


The first signs of trouble emerged with the sluggish pace of portfolio allocation. It took nearly a month for the triumvirate of Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar to carve out ministerial responsibilities among the coalition partners. Even after painstaking negotiations, many crucial posts remain contested and tensions are festering.


It appears that Fadnavis, a seasoned administrator with a reputation for discipline, has struggled to assert control. His allies, emboldened by their individual electoral gains, have been unwilling to compromise. Shinde, who relinquished his Chief Ministerial ambitions after the BJP’s strong performance, had pitched for heavyweight portfolios like Home, only to be rebuffed. This jockeying had spilled over into other critical departments, delaying governance at a time when Maharashtra urgently needs attention on infrastructure and social welfare.


Adding to the complications are ministers who have courted controversy. Allegations linking NCP minister Dhananjay Munde’s close aide to the murder of a sarpanch in Beed have prompted calls for his resignation. These controversies not only undermine the government’s image but also distract from its ability to deliver on its promises.


The issue of appointing District Guardian Ministers has become the latest flashpoint. These positions are coveted not only for their role in overseeing development funds but also for their influence in local politics. In Pune, Ajit Pawar, who has held the post for two decades, is determined to retain it. However, the BJP’s Chandrakant Patil and Shiv Sena leaders are staking claims. Similar power struggles are unfolding in Nashik and Raigad. In Beed, opposition to Munde’s potential appointment is strong in wake of the sarpanch murder case.


Fadnavis must navigate the egos of coalition partners, while keeping an eye on Maharashtra’s development. The absence of visible governance in the first month of the Mahayuti government has left the people wondering if their overwhelming vote for change will result in the same old problems of political gridlock and inefficiency.


Unless the coalition presents a cohesive front, it risks squandering the political capital it earned in November. The people of Maharashtra have voted for stability and governance, not for a coalition perpetually at war with itself. The clock is ticking, and the honeymoon is over.

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