RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat: Stray Dog Issue Needs Population Control, Not Confinement
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, a trained veterinary science graduate, has emphasised that all animals have the right to live and coexist with humans.
His remarks come amid an ongoing legal and public debate over the handling of stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region, following recent arguments in the Supreme Court.
Speaking at a religious congregation at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, Bhagwat argued that the so-called “stray dog menace” cannot be solved through mass confinement of dogs in shelters.
Instead, he advocated a scientific and humane approach focused on regulating their population through proper implementation of existing rules. The problem can be solved only by regulating the population of street dogs.
But, it cannot be resolved by putting stray dogs in shelters,” Bhagwat stated, stressing that solutions should maintain a balance between compassion and practicality.
Man-Nature Balance: A Cultural Perspective
Bhagwat illustrated his point with a cultural analogy involving cows, deeply rooted in Indian traditions. He explained that while milking a cow, people traditionally take only a portion of the milk, leaving the rest for the calf.
This, he said, reflects “the art of striking a balance between man and nature” — a principle he believes should guide the resolution of the stray animal issue as well.
Supreme Court Proceedings: August 11 Order Under Fire
Earlier this month, the stray dog debate intensified when an August 11 directive by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court ordered the removal of all street dogs from Delhi-NCR and their transfer to shelters.
This sparked sharp criticism from various quarters, with leaders, activists, and animal rights organisations calling the decision unrealistic and inhumane.
The India chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called the order “impractical, illogical, and illegal,” pointing out that such mass confinement not only violates animal rights but is also impossible to execute effectively.
In response to the widespread backlash, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai on Wednesday withdrew the suo motu stray dog case from the bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan.
The matter was instead taken up afresh by a larger three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath on Thursday.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal strongly opposed the idea of a blanket removal of stray dogs, arguing that such measures disregard humane and lawful approaches.
The bench itself observed that the root cause of the issue was inaction by authorities in enforcing existing population control and management rules.
As the bench reserved its order, the national conversation continues, with many — including Bhagwat — urging compassionate, lawful, and practical solutions that respect both human safety and animal rights.
#RSS #MohanBhagwat #StrayDogs #AnimalRights #SupremeCourtIndia #DelhiNCR #PETAIndia #StreetDogIssue #PopulationControl #ManAndNature #HumaneSolutions #AnimalWelfare #KapilSibal #SCBench #IndiaNews #AnimalProtection
