Is 'People Die, Dogs and Pigeons Live' the New Mantra?

Mumbai, Aug 13 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena(UBT) on Wednesday endorsed the Supreme Court’s directives, which reaffirm the Bombay High Court’s suspension of feeding pigeons and mandated municipal authorities to collect and shelter all stray dogs in Delhi and surrounding areas within eight weeks.

In the editorial of the party's publication, Saamana, the Shiv Sena(UBT) argued that both pigeons and stray dogs are a risk to public health, and it is inappropriate to stir religious feelings over this matter.

"Each year, thousands of individuals are tragically killed in road and railway incidents, yet neither the government nor those who claim to possess ghostly compassion express sorrow. 'People die, dogs and pigeons live' has become the new life motto, a troubling distortion emerging over the past decade. A community is even speaking of arming themselves to feed pigeons. In the teachings of Lord Mahavira, there is no room for violence or such madness, and Hinduism does not advocate for providing five kilos of government food grains to even the most aggressive dogs. Nonetheless, in our nation, the unnecessary creation of ghostly compassion under the guise of religion continues," stated the Thackeray faction.

“In India, individuals are dying or taking their own lives due to starvation, a multitude of illnesses, and financial woes, yet some seem more troubled by the plight of pigeons, stray dogs, and cats than the suffering of their fellow humans. Riots have erupted in Mumbai and Delhi over the issue of these animals. Despite warnings from the High Court and now the Supreme Court against the act of putting seeds in pigeon homes in Mumbai, those indulging in pity are unwilling to heed the advice,” the Thackeray faction emphasized.

The editorial further declared, “Stray dogs in Delhi should not be shown mercy. The Supreme Court has mandated that these dogs be relocated to shelters far from human habitation. The population of stray dogs is on the rise in cities across India, and they often run amok, attacking people. This has instilled fear among children and morning walkers alike. The incidence of rabies fatalities due to dog bites has surged, with over two crore individuals bitten in the last five years, leading to over a thousand deaths and numerous permanent disabilities. This situation is alarming.”

Referring to the protests regarding pigeon feeding in Mumbai, Saamana stated that the courageous people of Maharashtra must act to protect human lives from the adverse effects of feeding pigeons. However, a specific community remains steadfast in its stance on feeding pigeons, with some religious leaders even proclaiming, "We will fight with weapons to ensure pigeons are fed." Riots have occurred in Mira-Bhayander, Mumbai, over this issue. Pigeons are detrimental to human health, as confirmed by the Supreme Court ruling that feeding them is harmful and that pigeon shelters should be shut down. Doesn’t the apex court make its decisions after thorough consideration?” questioned the editorial.

Reiterating its support for prohibiting pigeon feeding in public areas, the editorial highlighted that many diseases arise from pigeon saliva, droppings, and feathers.

“Contact with pigeon droppings poses a significant risk to lung health. Pigeons are responsible for serious illnesses in young children, as pointed out by Dr. Sujeet K. Rajan, a leading expert in Chest Medicine, who informed the High Court through an affidavit that 'lung diseases are on the rise among the elderly, children, and women over 60', attributed to infections caused by pigeons. Consequently, the medical community recommended that pigeon shelters in densely populated cities like Mumbai be relocated, a suggestion accepted by the court. The municipal authorities complied with the court's directives. Nevertheless, the Jain community claims that feeding pigeons brings them spiritual merit... How much of this is genuinely rooted in religion and faith?” the editorial posed.

“Once upon a time, pigeons served as messengers. Now, these disputes over pigeons and dogs are pointless. Organizations like 'PETA' advocate against animal cruelty. Maneka Gandhi is concerned about stray dogs and monkeys that incite panic across the country, but in Delhi, monkeys pose a risk to people. Even monkey bites can be deadly. This is because those showing mercy to pigeons, monkeys, and stray dogs consider their lives to be miserable. Meanwhile, people are struggling to live decently, facing hunger and poverty, reliant on PM Modi's meager five to ten kilos of free rations,” the editorial concluded.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction provided a FAQ-style explanation regarding the significance of the court's rulings.

The Saamana editorial has reiterated that pigeon saliva, droppings, and feathers are responsible for serious lung conditions, particularly affecting children, the elderly, and women. The rise in stray dog attacks, especially on children and morning walkers, has become alarming. Over the past five years, more than two crore individuals have been bitten by dogs, resulting in thousands of rabies-related deaths and many enduring permanent disabilities.