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Zubeen garg to receive award for his act of compassion

By AT News |

Guwahati – Singer Zubeen Garg recently called for an end to the ritual of animal sacrifice at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam. According to reports, while performing at a function near the temple, he expressed his anguish over animal sacrifice and said that the practice must end. For this act of compassion, he'll receive a Hero to Animals Award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

"All religions call for compassion, no religion requires killing or eating animals, and hacking animals to death with weapons is just plain cruel," says PETA India Associate Director of Celebrity and Public Relations Sachin Bangera. "We commend Zubeen for being a voice for animals and calling for an end to animal sacrifices."

Last year, following various efforts by PETA India and People for Animals, the Municipal Council of Kullu issued an executive order refusing to grant permission for animal sacrifices that were scheduled to take place on the last day of the Kullu Dussehra festival.

PETA India also offers this guidance on its website showing members of the public what they can do to help the group stop animal sacrifice. It links to this letter from the government advisory body the Animal Welfare Board of India to states – in advance of Bakrid – letting them know that, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, the killing of animals outside licensed slaughterhouses is illegal. It further warns that animal-transport laws are often violated when animals are moved in order to be sacrificed.

Previously, PETA India wrote to the central government and all state and union territory governments urging them to implement the 17 February 2017 order of the Supreme Court stating that the Government of India's compendium of acts and rules regarding animal transport and slaughter must be complied with. PETA India had earlier asked them to implement the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, pertaining to the establishment and operation of slaughterhouses, as well as those of the Central Motor Vehicles (Eleventh Amendment) Rules, 2015, which outline special requirements for motor vehicles that transport animals to slaughterhouses. 

Other recipients of PETA India's Hero to Animals Award include Asin, for saving a dog who'd been hit by a car; Cyrus Broacha, for refusing to perform a stunt that involved riding a bull; Zarine Khan, for rescuing a cat from the street; Rani Mukerji, for helping a dog in distress on her film set; Sadaa Sayed, for helping a puppy who was almost hit by a car during a rainstorm; Shilpa Shetty, for raising awareness of the plight of animals in circuses; Aindrita Ray, for helping puppies who were being abused; and Dia Mirza's production house, Born Free Entertainment, for showing that homeless animals make wonderful additions to families.

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