One-day national wide agitation by BJP yesterday against inflation due to hike price of petrol turned into big theatrical issue while BJP MP from Amritsar parliamentary constituency Navjot Singh Sidhu came on sitting an elephant to address the rally for protest.
Report suggest that before hundreds of BJP leaders led by Amritsar MP Navjot Singh during agitation on Friday courted arrest, Sidhu, riding an elephant along senior party leader Balbir Punj, started his rally from his residence in the city, and went to the deputy commissioner office.
Criticizing Mr. Sidhu’s act of riding on an international heritage animal, an animal rights organization on Saturday lodged a complaint against him for violating the Wild Life Protection Act by using an elephant for self purpose.
According to source, UN affiliate-International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA) filed complaint against Sidhu along with senior BJP leader Balbir Punj for violation of section 268 IPC , Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 and the section 3, 11 and 38 of the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1972.
“The elephant is a national heritage animal and is protected under schedule one of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. It can’t be abused by being used as a publicity tool,” demanding rehabilitation OIPA India representative, Naresh Kadyan told reporters.
“BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and Balbir Punj have violated the Act so they should be booked” he further added.
Completely disqualified Sidhu, the body has warned to take issue before the Speaker of Lok Sabha, the Election Commission of India and demanded immediate rescue of abused elephant and strict action on act of registration animal usage with the Animal Welfare Board of India.
While asking from Sidhu, he told media persons, “It is due to the failure of the Congress-led UPA government that there is uproar in the country. The continuous hike in rates of various commodities has exposed the inability of the UPA on the economic front.”
Sidhu was bailed within just few hours after courted arrest along with, Punj and 43 others who were sent to Amritsar central jail in charge of national wide agitation.
