Maneka Gandhi urges AP CM to halt animal sacrifices

Animal sacrifices scheduled for May 18 and 19 at the Sri Tirupati Gangamma Temple

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

A fresh controversy has erupted over the proposed animal sacrifices scheduled for May 18 and 19 at the Sri Tirupati Gangamma Temple, with senior parliamentarian and noted animal rights activist Maneka Sanjay Gandhi writing to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu seeking immediate intervention.

In her letter to Naidu, Maneka Gandhi highlighted that hundreds of young citizens, including doctors and professors, have raised alarm over the large-scale animal sacrifices traditionally conducted during the annual event. She described the practice as a “massacre”, claiming that thousands of animals were killed, and urged the State government to take steps to halt the ritual.

Calling Naidu a “progressive and forward-thinking leader”, Gandhi appealed for decisive action, noting that several states such as Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have already adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards animal sacrifice. She also pointed out that Karnataka has significantly curbed such practices.

The BJP leader further argued that such customs are increasingly being rejected by younger generations and warned that they may encourage a culture of violence. She alleged that many participants do not perform the act as a genuine religious offering but as an outlet for aggression, sometimes under the influence of alcohol.

Suggesting alternatives, Gandhi proposed that temple authorities could promote symbolic offerings like coconuts instead of animal sacrifice. She also recommended that the government support the development of the temple premises into a more peaceful and culturally enriching space. “Just because something has been practiced for generations does not make it right”, she stated, drawing parallels with abolished customs such as sati and thuggee.