New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s recent directive to remove all stray dogs from the Delhi-NCR region, calling it a “step back” from decades of humane and science-based policies.
In a statement, Gandhi emphasised that stray animals should not be treated as “problems” to be eliminated. Instead, he advocated for solutions rooted in compassion and public safety, such as animal shelters, sterilisation drives, vaccinations, and community care programmes.
“Blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion,” he said, warning that such measures ignore sustainable, non-violent approaches that have proven effective worldwide.
Gandhi urged that policies must ensure public safety while also safeguarding animal welfare. “We can ensure public safety and animal welfare go hand in hand,” he added, stressing that the well-being of both humans and animals should be balanced in policymaking.
The Supreme Court’s directive has sparked intense debate, with animal rights activists and welfare organisations echoing Gandhi’s concerns and pushing for alternatives that avoid cruelty while addressing safety issues in urban spaces.
