The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA, has written a letter to superstar Rajinikanth, urging him to stop a proposed sacrifice of goats by his fans as part of their prayers for his success in politics.
In the letter, a copy of which is available with Cinestaan.com, Nikunj Sharma, one of the office-bearers of PETA, wrote: “We congratulate you for your reported decision to launch a political party as further advancement of your already illustrious, impressive career. The power you (Rajinikanth) hold can help make a positive difference to the lives of all living beings and we are therefore writing to respectfully request that you use it now to stop the planned slaughter of goats in your name.”
Stating that the PETA office had been inundated with calls and emails from upset members of the public who had read in the news that his fans intended to kill goats to eat at Alagarkoil in Madurai in his name, the office-bearer said, “The plan of your fans to kill goats in a temple is cruel and an apparent violation of Indian laws… It is illegal to slaughter animals anywhere other than a licensed slaughter house under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Slaughter House Rules, 2001. A temple where we worship and thank God for life is not a slaughter house.”
The office-bearer also pointed out that if such slaughtering happened, it would also be in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code.
Giving details of other laws that prevented such slaughter, the office-bearer urged Rajinikanth to stop the slaughter of the animals that is scheduled to take place on 7 January.
PETA was one of the petitioners in the Supreme Court that had sought a ban on the traditional sport of jallikattu or bull taming. Since then, the public in Tamil Nadu has expressed their anger at the organisation's efforts in matters concerning welfare of animals.
Incidentally, Soundarya Rajinikanth, the younger daughter of Rajinikanth, happens to be the brand ambassador of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), another well-known outfit seeking to ensure the welfare of animals.
It will be interesting to see what Rajinikanth does under these circumstances.