Viral: Man in dog mask reaches public hearing, claims Rs 40 lakh spent on sterilisation yet dog ‘became father of six’
PTC Web Desk: An unusual protest at a public hearing in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa grabbed attention after a man wearing a dog mask was brought in to highlight alleged irregularities in the municipal corporation’s stray dog sterilisation programme.
Khandwa Municipal Corporation Leader of Opposition Deepak “Mullu” Rathore staged the protest to raise questions over the city’s growing stray dog population and the money allegedly spent on controlling it.
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Rathore arrived at the hearing accompanied by a person dressed as a dog. A police officer posted at the entrance initially stopped them from entering, leading to a brief exchange. The situation was resolved after officials inside the venue asked the police to let them through.
Once inside, Rathore approached municipal officials and sought answers about the sterilisation programme. He later submitted a formal complaint before Additional Collector Kashiram Badole, detailing his allegations.
Rathore claimed that 13,225 persons had suffered dog bites in Khandwa over the last four years. He also alleged that the municipal corporation had spent more than Rs 40 lakh on dog sterilisation during the same period. Despite the expenditure, he claimed, the number of stray dogs in the city had continued to rise.
Rathore used the masked man to make his point in a dramatic manner. He introduced him as a dog that had supposedly undergone sterilisation but had nevertheless fathered six puppies.
The unusual example was meant to question whether the sterilisation work had actually been carried out properly.
Rathore alleged that corruption had taken place in the name of stray dog control and demanded an investigation into the matter.
He also said that if his complaint was not taken seriously, the ‘dog’ would approach the matter as a defamation case against the municipal corporation, alleging that its name had been used in the purported irregularities.
Adding to the theatrical nature of the protest, Rathore described the masked ‘dog’ as “very educated and intelligent” and said it had come before the officials to present its complaint with folded hands.
The sight initially surprised people at the hearing, with some attendees laughing when they realised why the masked man had been brought in.
The masked person remained seated on a chair while the complaint was being heard. After listening to Rathore's allegations, Additional Collector Kashiram Badole assured him that a committee would be constituted to examine the claims. He also said appropriate action would be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.
A man wearing a dog mask appeared at a Khandwa public hearing as Deepak Rathore alleged irregularities in the stray dog sterilisation drive and sought an inquiry.
- PTC NEWS
