Kerala to go ahead with decision to check violent stray dogs

The Kerala government on Friday virtualy brushed aside Union minister Maneka Gandhi’s opposition to its proposal to cull violent dogs, saying it will go ahead with its resolve to check dangerous canines even as three more children were injured by stray dogs.

“There is no change in the state government’s decision to tackle violent street dogs,” Local Administration Minister K T Jaleel said, reacting to Gandhi’s statement that the move to cull the dogs was “unlawful and unscientific”.

The government is contemplating how to overcome the problems caused by the street dogs and sterilisation process will be also strengthened, he told reporters in Kottayam.

“Violent dogs would be handled the way they should be handled,” he said, noting each person would have an opinion on the law in this regard.

However, the minister said the wishes of animal and environmental lovers also would be taken into consideration.

Taking a dig at Gandhi, Jaleel said, “How can people talk about being humane to animals when they did not have compassion towards human beings. First of all one needs to have love towards fellow human beings.

“It is not our policy to kill dogs...What we are contemplating is how to overcome the problems,” he added.