PETA takes steps to ban Bullock carts in Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 3 (UNI) A large number of celebrities have joined the signature campaign of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in its petition to the Controller of Rationing to ban use of bullocks to pull heavy oil carts through the streets of this metropolis.

Those who had extended support for the cause included Akshaye Khanna, Rahul Khanna, Raveena Tandon, Eesha Koppikar, Arjun Rampal, Rahul Dev, Avanti Birla and Sandiip Sikcand.

Following PETA's complaints, even the oil companies have issued letters to the controller of rationing through state level coordinator R K Panda of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited asking for bullock-pulled oil carts to be discontinued.

Justice C S Dharmadhikari (Retd Judge of the Bombay High Court), the Chairman of the Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra, had asked the controller about the action he had planned to take.

The bullocks are stationed on the main street opposite the Sewree Railway Station. They stand for hours without shelter and are exposed to heat and all other weather extremes. They are not provided with adequate food or water, PETA said, adding injured and sick bullocks receive no veterinary care, even though they were forced to continue pulling heavy kerosene tankers.

''Forcing these neglected and abused bullocks to pull oil tankers through city streets is outdated and cruel,'' PETA India's Chief Functionary Anuradha Sawhney said.

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