Delhi: Protest against stray dog menace at Jantar Mantar

Former Union Minister Vijay Goel on Sunday led a protest at Jantar Mantar, highlighting the rising incidents of stray dog bites, calling for stronger action from the authorities. The demonstration saw the participation of hundreds of people and representatives from more than 100 resident welfare associations and non-governmental organisations across Delhi, read a statement.

Several dog-bite victims also attended the protest and shared their experiences. Addressing the gathering, Goel claimed that India was home to over 120 million dogs, with Delhi alone accounting for more than 1.1 million.

He claimed that around 20,000 people were bitten by stray dogs across the country daily, including 2,000 in Delhi. Goel demanded 100 per cent sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs and urged the government to amend the Animal Birth Control Rules, calling them contrary to public interest. He also said if corrective steps were not taken, “the stray dog population could eventually surpass the human population”.

The protest witnessed a brief disruption when some dog feeders created a ruckus and argued with the protesters.

Police personnel present at the site intervened and removed them from the venue. Stray dogs were also spotted within the protest area.

Goel alleged that whenever meetings were organised with resident welfare associations, certain groups of dog lovers arrived to create disturbances and shoot videos, but they were unable to counter the concerns raised by residents. He said the frequent cases of dog bites had led to growing resentment among public against stray dogs.

Citing a recent directive of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Goel urged all state governments to provide compensation to dog-bite victims. He also proposed that aggressive dogs should be confined separately in designated enclosures. Highlighting the shortage of anti-rabies vaccines, Goel demanded a halt to their export and called for monthly inspections of sterilisation centres.

He criticised the Delhi MC for outsourcing sterilisation work to non-governmental organisations, alleging corruption.

Delhi