IMPHAL, December 5: FIAPO, an apex animal protection organisation of the country has expressed concerned over the slaughtering of animals during the Gadhimai Festival in Nepal.
A statement of the organisation said the visit by our PM Modi to Nepal for the SAARC summit resulted in many fruitful opportunities for both countries and a strengthening of bilateral ties, however, thousands of animals continue to suffer the same fate on both sides of the border.
It said Nepal witnessed the world`™s largest animal sacrifice `” the Gadhimai Festival in Nepal `” where thousands of buffalo calves, goats and birds were brutally hacked and bled to death on November 28 and 29, with most of them smuggled across from India.
The Gadhimai festival takes place in Nepal every five years and thousands of voiceless animals are killed mercilessly in the name of religion and tradition, the statement said.
This year the number of animals smuggled from India to Nepal reduced significantly as a result of immense efforts of activists, animal welfare organisations and volunteers, it said.
It continued that the festival drew international horror as efforts were made by animal activists from all over India and the world to curtail the illegal trafficking of Indian animals, destined for massacre.
Further according to the statement of the organisation which has over 60 members and over 200 supporter organisations across the country, the silver lining is that the number of animals has drastically reduced as a result of efforts of animal activists.
`The fact is, animals are bludgeoned just like this every day in India. This is what makes India the world`™s largest beef exporter. With more 30,000 illegal slaughterhouses, the revolution is not just a `pink`™ revolution but a dark, tormented and an anguishing red one` FIAPO said.
In the aftermath of Gadhimai, FIAPO is calling upon India`™s citizens to make compassionate food choices and avert a Gadhimai for thousands of innocent animals each day, it said.