No horses for polls, PETA tells Lalu

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad has been asked to stop his plan of using more than a thousand tam-tams (horse-drawn carriages) during the party’s campaign for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) wrote on Friday wrote to Lalu to desist from carrying out his plan as it was against the Election Commission (EC) advisory.

The EC, according to Peta sources, in its advisory issued in 2012 had asked all the political parties to refrain from using animals for political campaign.

Lalu’s decision to rope in tonga comes close on the heels of BJP flagging off 160 hi-tech raths (chariots/vans) to propagate Modi’s achievements.

“Political parties should try to garner support through ideas, not by parading around vulnerable animals,” said Peta chief executive officer (CEO) Poorva Joshipura.

Criticism
The group  further pointed out that “animals used in political campaigns are often forced into the middle of screaming crowds”.

The group added “ The animals find which they find terrifying, and easily spooked by loud noises.

The group said that this was not good since it creates risk of serious injury to both themselves as well as to people.

They are also beaten, forced to carry loads in excess of their physical capacities and denied adequate food and water.”