Raipur MP Argues Animals Must Be Protected From Cruel Sacrifice, Following PETA India Appeal

After hearing from PETA India, Member of Parliament (MP) from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Shri Sunil Kumar Soni appealed to colleagues in the monsoon session of Lok Sabha for the deletion of Section 28 of the PCA Act, 1960, which states, “Nothing contained in this Act shall render it an offence to kill any animal in a manner required by the religion of any community,” thereby denying animals slated for sacrifice the basic legislative protections required for animals used for food.

In his speech, Hon’ble MP Soni states, “Every year, thousands of animals – goats, buffaloes, camels, and others – are sacrificed on religious occasions in haphazard, unhygienic ways by people who are not trained in slaughter, which is extremely cruel. This is done outside slaughterhouse premises and often in public without any regard for how the blood, guts, and offal affect the environment.”

He further states, “When the meat from sacrificed animals is eaten, human health is endangered because there are no official health safety checks on the carcasses,” and appeals that worshippers who wish to engage in sacrifice should only be allowed to do so through licensed slaughterhouses.

So far, six members and one former MP have supported PETA India’s appeal to Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala for Section 28 to be deleted: Shri Dharambir Singh, MP for Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Haryana; Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, MP for Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh; Shri Guharam Ajgalley, MP for Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh; Shri Vijay Baghel, MP for Durg, Chhattisgarh; Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh, MP for West Delhi (NCT of Delhi); Shri Sunil Kumar Soni, MP for Raipur, Chhattisgarh; and Shri Alphons Joseph Kannanthanam, until recently a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Across the country, animal sacrifice involves a variety of species, including sheep, goats, buffaloes, chickens, and owls. The cruel practices include beheading, twisting animals’ necks, attacking them with sharp instruments, crushing or even biting them to death, and slitting their throats while they’re fully conscious.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011, the killing of animals for food is permissible only in a licensed slaughterhouse. Stunning facilities are required under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, to reduce pain and suffering, although this regulation is not commonly enforced. Animals used for sacrifice are denied even these most basic legislative protections, even though they are commonly used for food. The meat from sacrificed animals is also not subject to any official health or safety checks before consumption.

Join us in removing section 28 of the PCA Act, 1960, by signing up the petition below: