Pune – In response to Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Maharashtra Legislative Assembly member Rohit Pawar’s dangling of a tied, struggling crab to make a point during a recent press conference, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India fired off letters to National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Member of the Rajya Sabha Shri Sharadchandra Govind Pawar and District Election Officer Smt Minal Kalaskar.
In the letters, the group points out that this abuse of an animal violates The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; the Maharashtra Model Code of Conduct; an order issued by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, dated 24 March 2014, prohibiting the use of animals for election campaigning; the Election Commission of India (ECI) Manual on Model Code of Conduct; and a letter issued by ECI on 19 September 2012. PETA India has also written to MLA Rohit Pawar to request that he hand over the crab to the group for veterinary care and rehabilitation back into nature.
In the letters to Shri Sharadchandra Govind Pawar and Smt Minal Kalaskar, PETA India Advocacy Associate Shaurya Agrawal writes, “It’s evident from the video that Shri Pawar’s use of the crab was preplanned. For a media stunt, unnecessary pain and suffering were caused to the animal. Research shows that crabs are intelligent individuals who can experience pain and suffer. They explore their surroundings, have good memories, and communicate with each other.”
Following work by PETA India, ECI prohibited the use of animals for political campaigns. PETA India had advised ECI that during election campaigns and political rallies, animals are often beaten, whipped, kicked, and terrorised while being paraded through the streets and shoved into crowds of shouting, jostling bystanders. They’re also often forced to carry loads beyond their capacity and denied adequate food and water, and they can be seriously injured in the mayhem.
ECI first acted in response to PETA India’s appeal in 2012 by issuing an advisory instructing all political parties to refrain from using animals in political campaigns. In a 2013 notification, the State Election Commission of Maharashtra prohibited the use of donkeys, bulls, elephants, and cows during election campaigns and also instructed authorities to take strict action against anyone who violates animal protection laws.
