PETA relaunches campaign to boycott Indian leather

Mumbai, Jul 1 (UNI) The India charter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and its worldwide affiliates are relaunching a campaign from today to encourage retailers and consumers worldwide to boycott Indian leather.

''The decision follows lack of enforcement of animal welfare standards promised by former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and late Minister of Commerce Murasoli Maran. Also, a refusal by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) to stop its members from supporting illegal slaughterhouses,'' a release issued here today said.

PETA-India investigations spanning seven years reveal that Indian animals used for leather are transported in such poor, crowded conditions that their bones break, and they often suffocate or die enroute to slaughter. At all municpal slaughterhouses, animals are slaughtered in full view of each other, which is illegal, the release said.

PETA-India Coordinator of Campaigns&Legal Affairs N G Jayasimha said, ''The Indian government has done nothing to stop the illegal abuse of animals in the leather trade and the CLE's programme is a shame.'' Hence PETA-India will hold its first series of demonstrations outside the Delhi International Leather Fair from today, the release added.

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