Actor Sidharth Malhotra on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting stronger penalties for people who commit acts of cruelty against animals.
In the letter, a copy of which was released by PETA India, Mr. Malhotra said India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, contains outdated penalties, such as a maximum fine of ₹50 for convicted first offenders who abuse an animal, which he calls “barely equivalent to a slap on the wrist”.
Mr. Malhotra said, “As a result, the newspapers are filled with reports of disturbing and egregious animal abuse in our country.” He added, “Including incidents in which dogs were poisoned, cows were burned with acid, and cats were beaten to death. All this does significant damage to our reputation as a nation that respects animals.”
He went on to note that psychologists, sociologists, and law-enforcement officials have all documented that children who hurt animals often end up hurting other humans. Mr. Malhotra said, “If those guilty of cruelty to animals received jail time and significant fines – as well as counselling and a ban on contact with animals – it would help ensure that our duty under Article 51A(g) of the Constitution of India to show animals compassion is better upheld and respected and that society at large is protected from violent behaviour.”
Mr. Malhotra had starred in a campaign for PETA India that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way, which promoted the sterilisation of dogs and cats.
