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PETA India lies about not having a foreign chief functionary: Here are the details

OpIndia Staff
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PETA India lies about not having a foreign chief functionary: Here are the details

Startling details have emerged regarding the functioning of PETA India since the latest controversy over Bakr-Eid. The supposed animal rights NGO also ran an anti-leather campaign geared towards the Hindu festival of Rakshabandhan, which angered people on social media as they could not fathom where was the consumption of leather involved during the festival.

Soon after, PETA India ran an organised campaign against a columnist in cohorts with Congress and Islamists after she dared to criticised them. Now, it has been brought to notice that PETA India has a foreigner as its chief functionary. In response to criticism by columnist Shefali Vaidya, it claimed that it was a different organisation than the PETA USA.

While technically it could still claim it is different than the PETA USA, details about the organisation reveals that it is not really the case. For all intent and purposes, PETA India is a branch of PETA International and they cannot really shy away from it. Expert on foreign funded NGOs, @by2kaafi, pointed out that the Chief Functionary of PETA India was Ingrid Newkirk and it has three foreign functionaries in its ranks.

Then, PETA India straight up lied and denied that Ingrid Newkirk was their chief functionary. They claimed that she is their founder but not the Chief Functionary. Furthermore, they accused the expert on FCRA NGOs of deliberately misrepresenting the organisation. However, as evidence, @by2kaafi pointed out to the submissions the organisation had made to the Home Ministry as per requirements under the FCRA regulations.

According to the submissions made by PETA India to the Home Ministry for the financial year 2018-19, which are accessible to the public on the official government website dedicated to FCRA NGOs, the organisation itself recognised Ingrid Newkirk as their Chief Functionary. The submissions require the name and signature of the Chief Functionary and Ingrid Newkirk declared herself as the person holding the position in its FCRA submission.

Submissions made to Home Ministry by PETA India (Image Credit: @by2kaafi)

The submissions reveal that there are 3 foreign functionaries working currently at PETA India, however, their names are not revealed. OpIndia attempted to access the names through the information available on Darpan NGO, another government initiative, but it was revealed they had not made that bit of information public.

OpIndia also checked the official website of PETA India but the information was not made readily available to the public there as well and OpIndia could not find it on the website. But their submissions to the Home Ministry confirm that there are three foreign functionaries working at the organisation.

Image Credit: @by2kaafi

Furthermore, the FCRA submissions reveal that PETA India received Rs. 6,61,28,940.00 from PETA US during the financial year 2018-19. The total foreign contribution received during the same period was Rs. 6,67,28,942.00. Thus, quite clearly, almost the entire foreign contribution to the organisation came from PETA USA.

It also needs to be pointed out here that Ingrid Newkirk, the Chief Functionary of it, is not an Indian citizen. Her Wikipedia page says that she holds British and American citizenship. While it is true that she spent a small period of her life in New Delhi while growing up, she appears to be a foreigner herself. She is also the founder of PETA International.

According to her biography on her personal website, Ingrid Newkirk was living with her husband in the United States at the age of 21. It states further, “Ingrid has also served as a deputy sheriff, a Maryland state law enforcement officer with the highest success rate in convicting animal abusers, the director of cruelty investigations for the second-oldest humane society in the U.S., and the chief of animal disease control for the Commission on Public Health in Washington, D.C.”

Image Source: Wikipedia

Thus, quite clearly, the Chief Functionary of PETA India itself is not an Indian citizen. And the Chief Functionary of it is the founder of PETA, the international organisation. PETA India quite clearly lied when it claimed that Newkirk wasn’t their chief functionary. However, it is interesting that they did not deny the fact that three of their functionaries are foreign assets.

Man commits suicide at Congress headquarters, body recovered from servant’s quarter

OpIndia Staff
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Man commits suicide at Congress headquarters, body recovered from servant’s quarter

A staff member at the Congress headquarters at 24, Akbar Road in Delhi committed suicide in the servant quarter. The body was discovered yesterday, Delhi Police has said.

It is reported that the door to the room was locked from the inside when the body was discovered. However, it is not known yet what prompted the individual to resort to the extreme act. The Delhi Police has reportedly taken the body in its custody and sent the corpse for further investigation into the matter.

As per reports, the individual committed suicide on Sunday. No suicide note has been recovered as of now. The Police has launched an investigation into the matter. It is further reported that the individual, who has been identified as one Prakash, hanged himself using an electric wire at around 10.30 a.m. on Sunday. It was the deceased’s brother who informed the Police about stench coming from the room.

Uttar Pradesh: Dalit family gets beaten up by Muslims after pigs reared by former enters their house

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Dalit family gets beaten up by Muslims after pigs reared by former enters their house

In the Motipur area of Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, one Nasiruddin and his accomplices attacked a house of Dalit for rearing pigs. According to police, a member of the Dalit community, Budhai, reared at his residence. On Sunday, pigs reportedly escaped from the house and entered Nasiruddin’s house in the neighbourhood. Nasiruddin captured the animal and refused to let it go that led to an argument between Budhai and him.

Casteist slurs hurled by Nasiruddin and accomplices

News Agency PTI talked to station in-charge J.N. Shukla who said that Nasiruddin released the animal after arguing for some time. However, when Budhai reached back home, he came with a few of his friends from his community and attacked his house. They created ruckus in the house and passed sexual remarks on women. Budhai alleged that they used caste-slurs on him and other members of the family, including women and children.

Six arrested so far

On Budhai’s complaint, police have registered a case against eight people. Six of them were arrested and search for another two is still on. Shukla added that the situation is under control in the area. However, they have deployed a team of police officers to ensure the safety of the members of the Dalit community.

Loyola College sexual harassment case: Victim denies justice for four years, AICF seeks probe against Fr. Xavier Alphonse

OpIndia Staff
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Loyola College sexual harassment case: Victim denies justice for four years, AICF seeks probe against Fr. Xavier Alphonse

The All India Christian Association (AICF), headed by Savio Rodrigues, has declared support of a victim who has allegedly been sexually harassed by one Fr. Xavier Alphonse.

The accused is a former Principal and Director of the Alumni Association of Loyola College in Chennai. The victim, in this case, is reportedly a senior member of the faculty at the said college. As per the report, the Loyola College has been non-cooperative in the victim’s fight for justice, thus compelling her to approach the Madras High Court in 2016. Even though the court had issued notices to Xavier Alphonse, yet he did not file a response in the past four years.

Savio Rodrigues, who is the president of AICF, conceded that sexual abuse is an evil that exists within the Catholic Church. He emphasised that all such crimes must be dealt with severely and quickly. Rodrigues has accused the powerful institution of the Jesuit order of shielding Alphonse. He added, “Alphonse assumes that under the protection of a powerful institution of the Jesuit Order – Loyola College, Chennai, he is safe. This attitude is behind the reason there has been no reply to High Court notices for 4-years from the accused priest and from the Loyola College as well.” Rodrigues further emphasised that he believed in the power of Judiciary and will use legal expertise to ensure justice to the victim.

AICF Press Release- I (Photo credits: Twitter)
AICF Press Release- I (Photo credits: Twitter)

Silence of Loyola College administration

The President of AICF stated that the organisation has decided to support the victim because she has been fighting for her dignity and self-respect. When her family reached out to the AICF, they decided to take up the case and fight for her justice. Rodrigues added that the management and alumni of Loyola College are powerful, they have maintained a stoic silence on the issue. Reportedly, AICF had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerning sexual abuse in various denominations of Christianity with a specific mention of Jesuit abuse in India.

Lack of transparency in Jesuit Order in India

The All India Christian Forum has acknowledged the efforts made by Jesuit Curia in Rome for conducting two separate investigations in the case. However, he expressed disappointment that the Society of Jesus in India failed to publish the report of his recent investigation. Savio Rodrigues has demanded a secular/external investigation to prevent corrupt clergy from ‘influencing fact-finding and reporting’. Highlighting a botched up investigation, he remarked that the victim was not interviewed during the initial investigation. Rodrigues further noted that the Jesuit order in India has failed to maintain transparency and openness.

Demand for an independent inquiry

The President of AICF has also called out the silence of the Loyola college administration and accused it of being primarily concerned about its reputation instead of addressing the grievance of the victim. “We are not lawyers, police, prosecutors, or judges. But, we realise it’s possible that corrupt clergy like Xavier Alphonse might be deemed innocent of the charges he faces,” the press release stated. The organisation has demanded an independent inquiry into the Loyola College sexual harassment case to avoid any ‘outside intervention.’

“Sachin Pilot nikamma hai, nakaara hai”: Ashok Gehlot says he is not here to ‘sell baingan’. Watch video

OpIndia Staff
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“Sachin Pilot nikamma hai, nakaara hai”: Ashok Gehlot says he is not here to ‘sell baingan’. Watch video

Amid all the bitter political tussle that has been going on in Rajasthan between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot camps, the Rajasthan CM and Congress senior leader, Ashok Gehlot Monday launched a scathing attack on the former deputy CM Sachin Pilot. Addressing the press, Gehlot lashed out at the rebel leader by calling him “nikamma and nakaara (useless)”.

“Rajasthan is the only state in the country where no demands were raised from any quarter to change the pradesh Congress committee president in the last seven years. We knew that no work is happening. We knew he is nikamma and nakaara (useless). We still didn’t question him keeping the party interest in mind,” said Gehlot to the media.

The CM’s no holds barred personal attack aimed at Sachin Pilot did not stop at this. He said that he did not do any constructive work as a party member, instead, only made people fight each other. Gehlot lashed out saying, “Main yahan baingan bechne nahin aaya hun, main yahan sabzi bechne nahin aaya hun, main yahan CM ban’ne aaya hun (I am not here to sell brinjals, vegetables, I am here to become the CM).”

Looking visibly irked while speaking to the media, Gehlot alleged that Pilot had hatched a conspiracy to topple the Ashok Gehlot led Rajasthan government in the state. He said that Pilot has backstabbed the party despite being respected for seven long years as president of the state unit. The Congress senior leader alleged that Pilot was conspiring for the last 6 months, with BJP’s help, to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan, but no one believed him, Gehlot furthered. “History must not have ever witnessed, that a party head has conspired against his own party and worked to topple his own government”, alleged the Rajasthan CM.

“Masoom chehra, Hindi-English mein command. Media ko impress kar rakha the pure country ke andar. Bahut mehnat kari Rajasthan key andar government girane ki.(He managed to impress national media with an innocent face backed by his good command over English and Hindi language. But he worked hard to topple the Rajasthan government)” he said.

Ashok Gehlot revealed how he was not ‘in talking terms’ with Sachin Pilot for the past 1.5 years

Recently, Ashok Gehlot had made a shocking revelation exposing the appalling system of governance in the state of Rajasthan. Gehlot had claimed that he was not in ‘talking terms’ with the Deputy Chief Minister of the state Sachin Pilot. Speaking to a media, Gehlot stated that Pilot was just playing the victim card over Special Operation Group (SOG) notice to him. 

“A minister does not talk to his CM, nor seeks his advice and there is no dialogue. In a democracy, even arch-rivals talk. The beauty of democracy is dialogue. The news generated over the last one-and-a-half years is sufficient for a book,” said Gehlot.

Earlier in the day, the Rajasthan High Court began hearing on the writ petition filed by rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot and 18 other dissident party MLAs from Rajasthan, challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by the state Assembly speaker. The petition was taken up by a bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta on Friday and arguments were heard.

Lashing out at Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Pilot had said that the disqualification notices issued to him and 18 other Congress MLAs have no legal basis and were issued by Speaker Joshi on the diktats of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

Congress sacked Sachin Pilot as the state chief and removed him from the Deputy CM’s post

On July 14, the Congress party had sacked the young Turk as Rajasthan state Congress chief and removed him from the post of Deputy Chief Minister of the state. The party had alleged that the leader had gone rogue and had conspired with BJP to destabilise the government in Rajasthan.

Vikas Dubey encounter: SC asks UP govt to reconstitute probe committee, says appalled that he was earlier granted bail

OpIndia Staff
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Vikas Dubey encounter: SC asks UP govt to reconstitute probe committee, says appalled that he was earlier granted bail

On Monday, a 3-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by CJI SA Bobde noted that the Uttar Pradesh government has the responsibility to uphold law and order situation in the State. The apex court made the observation while hearing a plea in connection to the encounter of gangster Vikas Dubey. 

The petition was filed by two lawyers namely Ghanashyam Upadhayay and Anoop Prakash Awasthi. In their petition, the duo sought for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the encounter of the slain gangster. While senior advocate Harish Salve appeared for Uttar Pradesh police, the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the State of Uttar Pradesh.

The Chief Justice of India noted the difference between the encounter of Dubey and the encounter of four unarmed rapists in the sensational Hyderabad case. He emphasised, “But you as a state government you are responsible to maintain rule of law. It requires arrests, trial, and sentencing.” CJI Bobde observed that the government has constituted a committee under the supervision of a High Court judge and asked whether the government can add a retired Supreme Court judge and an ex-police officer to the probe committee. The suggestion was readily accepted by Tushar Mehta. He emphasised that the Bench cannot appoint a sitting SC judge to look into the committee.

Senior advocate Harish Salve who appeared on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Police argued that Dubey was not an ordinary person but a hardened criminal who was arrested for ‘slaughtering policemen.’ He stated, “This is not a case that merits a judicial intervention or a committee with judicial officers. Such an inquiry would also demoralise the police force.” The CJI, however, rebutted the argument by emphasising that an inquiry will strengthen the rule of law and not demoralise the police force.

Besides, the CJI also directed petitioner Upadhyay to present his case before the probe committee and rejected the constitution of a SIT. Moreover, he sought for a report on all bail orders after learning that the gangster was earlier released on bail. “This is a failure of an institution where he was released on bail and did this. We need a report on such bail orders,” CJI SA Bobde remarked.

Encounter of Vikas Dubey

On the night of 2nd and 3rd July, three-teams of UP the police had gone to the Bikaru village to arrest Vikas Dubey. He had got a tip-off about the raid and planned an ambush on the police teams. He and his gang members killed eight policemen and injured several. CO Devendra Mishra, who was leading the operation, was among the eight officers who died in the attack. Dubey was arrested in Ujjain a few days later. The police vehicle in which he was being brought back to Kanpur had met with an accident on the way. Vikas had tried to escape and fired a few shots at the policemen while escaping. Police retaliated and shot him dead in an encounter. 5 of Vikas’ accomplices were also killed in separate encounters.

Bengal: Family of minor victim alleges she was raped and murdered, police claim no sign of sexual or physical assault

OpIndia Staff
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Bengal: Family of minor victim alleges she was raped and murdered, police claim no sign of sexual or physical assault

On Sunday, 19 July, it was reported that the 15-year-old sister of a BJP booth President in West Bengal was allegedly abducted from her home, raped and murdered in Chopragaj in Uttar Dinajpur. However, the Dinajpur police have now revealed that there were no signs of physical or sexual assault and that the minor had died due to consumption of poison. 

The family of the teen, meanwhile, claimed that the girl was gang-raped and murdered.

“Inquest by a magistrate and videography of the Post Mortem was done. As per the PM report cause of death is “effect of poison”. No injury marks anywhere in the body has been found. There is no sign of sexual or physical assault,” said West Bengal police.

BJP accused Trinamool Congress worker Feroze Ali

It is pertinent to note that the BJP had pinned the blame of the gruesome act on West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress worker Feroze Ali. BJP General Secretary (Uttar Dinajpur) Surjit Sen said that Trinamool Congress is behind the abduction, rape, and murder of the minor girl. The official handle of the BJP unit of West Bengal had tweeted that the 15-year-old girl was raped by one Feroze Ali. 

However, the WB police said that the minor girl’s autopsy report confirmed that there were no marks of any physical injury on the body of the girl. A report by India Today also quoted a highly placed sources in the district as saying that there is no mention of any kind of injury or any attempt of sexual advances in the post mortem report.

BJP and villagers protest, block National Highway

Violence had erupted in the Chopra area in the North Dinajpur of West Bengal after a dead body of a 15-year old girl was found on July 19, 2020 (Sunday). The villagers and the BJP supporters protested against the heinous crime by blocking the National Highway-31 and burning tyres at Kalagarh in North Dinajpur. This resulted in a heavy traffic jam in the area. When the Inspector-in-Charge (IC) reached the spot, the BJP workers gheraoed him and displayed their angst. 

Rape and murder was alleged

The protesting locals and the family of the victim had alleged that the 15-year-old sister of a BJP booth President was taken to an abandoned place near Chopragaj in Sonarpur Gram Panchayat. Reportedly, the 10th std student was then raped and poisoned by the perpetrators. They fled the scene after dumping her body at the abandoned place which is located close to her house. After the girl went missing, locals began searching for her. She was found in an unconscious state at the deserted place. She was rushed to a primary healthcare centre in Chopragaj’s Dalua block. When her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to Islampur Sub-Divisional Hospital where she was declared dead.

‘Nehru did not attend Somnath Bhumi Puja’: Congress, NCP question PM Modi’s Ayodhya visit for Ram Mandir

OpIndia Staff
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‘Nehru did not attend Somnath Bhumi Puja’: Congress, NCP question PM Modi’s Ayodhya visit for Ram Mandir

Irked by PM Modi’s decision to visit Ayodhya for foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, Congress MP Husain Dalwai raised questions over the proposed event. In a statement on Monday, he said that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had not attended the Bhumi Pujan or the inauguration ceremony of Somnath Temple. At that time, Nehru said that he was the leader of the secular state, and if he visits Somnath Temple, it may harm the ‘secular fabric’ of the nation.

Dalwai added that PM needs to decide if it is appropriate to go for such an event amid Chinese coronavirus pandemic. He said, “Now Eid is also coming and most Muslim seers have advised people not to visit places of worship, not gather together, not offer (animal) sacrifice. A lot of temples are shut, including the Saibaba temple. Even the government keeps encouraging to maintain social distancing, so PM must decide to hold such a ceremony or not.”

Dalwai conveniently forgets an important piece of history

Dalwai said that while Nehru rejected the invitation for Somnath Mandir’s Bhumi Pujan stating he is a leader of a secular state, nowadays things have changed. However, Dalwai forgot to mention that then-President Rajendra Prasad went for the inauguration ceremony. When Nehru objected after learning about his plans via a letter, President Prasad wrote him back and said, “I believe in my religion and cannot cut myself away from it.” The said exchange of letters was mentioned in the book by Durga Das, “India: From Curzon To Nehru And After”.

Sharad Pawar questions PM Modi’s visit to Ayodhya

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has also questioned PM Modi’s upcoming visit to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir. On Sunday, he questioned whether building the Ram Mandir would cure coronavirus.

Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan in Ayodhya on August 5

Earlier today, the PMO finalized 5th August as the day for the Bhumi Pujan ceremony at Ayodhya. On Sunday, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust sent an invitation for the same to PMO and asked PM Modi to select one of the mentioned auspicious dates 3rd August and 5th August for the ceremony. The construction will begin after Bhoomi Pujan. It may take anywhere between three to four years to complete the construction of the Temple which may coincide with state elections in Uttar Pradesh.

After a meeting of the Shri Ramjanmbhoomi Trust on Sunday, chief secretary Champat Rai said that they would begin an outreach program to collect funds for the construction of the temple. While that Larsen & Toubro (L&T) will manage the construction, Sompura Marbles is going to provide the bricks for the temple.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi recycles old images of Assam floods as current images of the plight of flood victims in the country

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi recycles old images of Assam floods as current images of the plight of flood victims in the country

Several states in the country have been experiencing flood situation due to heavy rains. Assam and Bihar, particularly, have been facing fearful odds and governments are trying hard to minimise the loss of life and livelihoods. Under such circumstances, senior leader of the Congress party Priyanka Gandhi made an appeal to the workers and leaders of her party to help those battling the floods on the ground.

Priyanka’s tweet

There was just one problem with her appeal. Despite her great apparent concern for the people affected by the floods, Priyanka Gandhi recycled old images from past floods and showed them as people suffering in the current spate of floods across the country. As it turns out, the image on the right is from the Assam floods of 2017, as pointed out by Twitter user Ankur Singh.

Similarly, the image on the left is from the Assam floods of 2019. A cropped version of the image appears on the north east news portal NE Now.

Image Credit: Ankur Singh/Twitter

This is not the first time Priyanka Gandhi has been caught spreading misinformation through her social media account. Recently, Agra DM had ‘fact-checked’ her claim that 28 people had died of coronavirus within 48 hours. Sharing the details of coronavirus cases and deaths in Agra, the DM had asked the Congress president’s daughter to remove her tweet and apologise.

In March this year, Priyanka, in another such attempt, had posted images from Pakistan to claim that farmers in UP had suffered crop damage. After netizens outraged over her attempts ro spread misinformation, she had deleted her tweet.

PETA India encourages Muslims to be ‘kind’ on Eid, by giving guidelines on ‘how to slaughter goats kindly’

OpIndia Staff
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PETA India encourages Muslims to be ‘kind’ on Eid, by giving guidelines on ‘how to slaughter goats kindly’

PETA India’s glaring hypocrisy on animal rights reached a new peak. Columnist Shefali Vaidya on Monday took to Twitter to expose the NGO’s hypocrisy yet again. Sharing screenshots from PETA India’s website she showed how PETA India spuriously talks about encouraging ‘kindness in animals’ amongst Muslims while sharing guidelines on how to slaughter them ‘effectively’.

PETA India, which is known to selectively target Hindu traditions and customs, while giving other religions a free pass, has on its website recommended a ‘resource’ set up by PETA US which advocates ‘Islamic Teachings On Compassion’. PETA India’s website read that “AnimalinIslam.com is an excellent resource that our friends at the PETA US have created to help Muslims encourage ‘kindness to animals’ in their community trough Islamic teaching of compassion”.

PETA India advocates ‘kindness to animals’ amongst Muslims

Though PETA India’s this endeavour looks quite encouraging, on visiting the ‘resource’ which PETA India exulted about in its website, we came across a link on ‘Qurbani’, (the archive of which can be viewed here). Here, ‘Animals In Islam’ gives detailed guidelines on how animals should be sacrificed ‘effectively’.

“When you must kill a living being, do it the proper way—when you slaughter, use the best method and sharpen your knife so as to cause as little pain as possible.” When the Prophet (pbuh) saw a man sharpening his knife in the presence of the animal destined for slaughter, he said, “Do you intend inflicting death on the animal twice—once by sharpening the knife within its sight and once by cutting its throat?” (Muslim), reads the article, which gives, a step by step, in-depth knowledge, of how to go about slaughtering an animal.

Screenshot of the article on “Qurbani” on ‘Animals in Islam’ website

The article also goes on the speak on how Children should be sanitised with regard to the ‘spiritual significance of Qurbani’ as they develop stronger bonds with animals than adults.

It’s rather surprising that on one hand, PETA India is advocating veganism to the entire world, and on the other hand, it is tutoring on how to execute an ‘effective’ slaughter.

PETA India’s double-standards are no longer surprising. Recently, the NGO had faced the ire of Netizens for its selective and biased campaigning. Soon after removing ‘Turn Vegan’ posters, since it had hurt the ‘religious sentiments’ of Muslim clerics, PETA India had launched a Rakshbandhan campaign in Ahmedabad featuring a cow urging people to give up leather for Rakhi. This had irked the social media users who went all out to then expose the animal rights advocacy group. It soon became evident how PETA India is more concerned about the criticism it faces on social media than actual physical attacks on its workers by Islamist mobs.

Miffed netizens also exposed how the NGO, which supposedly works against animal cruelty, had displayed double-standards by conferring awards on people who have a history of promoting animal slaughter and abuse. Following which, PETA joined hands with Congress and Islamists to attack a private citizen, Shefali Vaidya, and indulged in name-calling and bullying.

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