A fresh political controversy has broken out in Punjab after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a statewide drive targeting dangerous stray dogs, citing recent observations made by the Supreme Court on rising dog attack incidents.
The announcement triggered immediate criticism from BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, who accused the Punjab government of distorting the apex court’s position and creating confusion over the legal framework governing stray dog control.
Mann Announces Statewide Campaign
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the Punjab government would begin a large-scale campaign against stray and aggressive dogs following concerns raised by the Supreme Court over increasing attacks on children and pedestrians in several parts of the country.
In a social media post, Mann said the campaign would begin immediately and thanked the Supreme Court for what he described as a significant intervention on the issue of public safety.
The statement quickly sparked reactions from political leaders and animal welfare groups, many of whom questioned the scope and legality of the proposed action.
BJP Hits Back at Punjab Government
Responding sharply to Mann’s remarks, BJP leader Tajinder Bagga alleged that the state government was presenting the court’s observations in a misleading manner.
Bagga argued that the Supreme Court had not approved any blanket elimination of stray dogs and said the order only allowed action in specific cases involving rabid, terminally ill or clearly dangerous animals after examination by qualified veterinary authorities.
He further accused the government of using the issue for political messaging and warned against any action that could violate animal protection laws and existing animal birth control regulations.
Supreme Court’s Earlier Observations
The political exchange comes shortly after the Supreme Court declined to modify its earlier directions regarding stray dog management around sensitive public locations such as schools, hospitals and other institutional areas.
The court had observed that stray dog attacks were becoming a growing concern in public spaces, including residential colonies, airports and educational institutions. The bench also referred to incidents involving children, elderly citizens and commuters allegedly being attacked by stray dogs.
The apex court had clarified that stray dogs removed from such zones should not be released back into those areas even after sterilisation or vaccination procedures.
Debate Between Safety and Animal Welfare
The issue has once again highlighted the ongoing debate between public safety concerns and animal welfare protections.
While several residents’ groups and citizens have demanded stricter measures to prevent dog attacks, animal rights organisations have cautioned state governments against adopting methods that may violate provisions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Animal Birth Control Rules.
So far, the Punjab government has not issued a detailed framework explaining how the proposed campaign will be carried out or what procedures authorities will follow during implementation.
Opposition Demands Clarification
Opposition leaders have now sought clarity from the Punjab government regarding the legal basis of the campaign, the role of local authorities and the safeguards that will be put in place to ensure compliance with court directions and animal welfare norms.
The controversy is expected to intensify as political parties, civic authorities and animal welfare groups continue debating how states should address the growing concern over stray dog attacks without violating existing laws.
