The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Bad man’ promotes a good cause

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Friday, Apr 11, 2008
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New Delhi

‘Bad man’ promotes a good cause

Urges local governments to act against cruel transport of cattle

‘Get humane’: Gulshan Grover in a PETA poster condemning cruelty against animals.

Bollywood’s seasoned old “bad man” Gulshan Grover has expressed his solidarity with the cause of animal rights and extended his support to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Starring in PETA’s latest campaign against cruel transport of cattle in trucks, Gulshan says he wants the local governments to take action against illegal abuse of animals that are slaughtered for their hide. Shot by ace photographer Ashok Salia n, the campaign has the tagline, “Stop the Real Villains: Stop Cruel Animal Transport”.

Gulshan says: “I am a villain only on the screen; however, there are real life villains who treat animals badly whether in Mumbai or in New York. I urge Indians to help stop needless animal suffering by insisting that their local governments and the police enforce laws against the perpetrators of animal crimes.”

These poor animals are made to walk through extremely hot conditions without any food or water. Several of them collapse. To keep them moving, handlers pull them with ropes passed through their noses or even rub chilli peppers into their eyes, says the actor.

Cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep are crammed on to trucks in such crowded conditions that many are gouged by others’ horns, suffer broken bones or end up being crushed under the weight of other animals. According to Gulshan, leather producers blatantly ignore India’s minimal animal protection laws for transport and slaughter.

This is not the first time that Gulshan has spoken out for the animal cause. In 2004 he had shot a similar campaign and also starred in an advertisement directed by noted filmmaker Kailash Surendranath.

Kunal Diwan

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