Maneka Gandhi opposes Army's animal sacrifice practices

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi, an avid animal rights activist, has declared the Indian army’s traditions of “animal sacrifice” and “airdropping live animals” as acts of animal cruelty.

According to the Indian Express , the Union Minister has written a letter to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and asked him to stop the practice of animal sacrifice in the Gorkha regiment and another of air-dropping living animals for regiments posted in inaccessible areas to provide them fresh meat.

Gandhi had written the similar letter to ex Defense Minister Arun Jaitley as well. According to her, “It may have had its use during that period when communication and roads were not available, but there is no reason why the animal should be subjected to such cruel practices in present times, especially when pre-packaged meat products are easily available.”

However, the Gorkha regiment’s customs of animal sacrifice has been around since the time of the British.

Goats, buffaloes and other animals are ritually sacrificed by the regiment. Tradition dictates that the buffalo’s head must be cut off cleanly with a single blow in order to secure the regiment good fortune for the coming year.