Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticised the Supreme Court’s order directing the removal of all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR and their permanent relocation to shelters. He called the directive “a step back from humane, science-backed policy.”
In a post on X, Gandhi said the move treats stray dogs as “problems to be erased” rather than living beings deserving compassion.
He wrote, “The SC’s directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy. These voiceless souls are not ‘problems’ to be erased. Shelters, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care can keep streets safe—without cruelty. Blanket removals are cruel, shortsighted, and strip us of compassion. Public safety and animal welfare can go hand in hand.”
The remarks came a day after the apex court, taking suo motu cognisance of the rising stray dog menace in Delhi-NCR, directed governments and civic bodies in Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad to sterilise stray dogs and move them permanently to shelters within eight weeks. The court also warned against any obstruction in implementing the order.
The directive has sparked a debate, with leaders from various political parties offering mixed reactions.