Mumbai: Vets protest against ‘threats, abuses by Maneka Gandhi’

MUMBAI: Veterinary doctors from Mumbai and across the country observed a ‘black day’ on Wednesday, protesting against

threats

and abusive language used against vets, allegedly by parliamentarian Maneka Gandhi.

The veterinarians fraternity strapped black bands and ribbons across their arms in protest while at work in their clinics, poultry or dairy farms. Even veterinary college students and government veterinarians joined in.

“We observed a ‘black day’ in protest,” said Dr Makrand Chavan, secretary of Pet Practitioners’ Association of Mumbai.

Veterinarians alleged that Gandhi, an animal activist, had threatened and abused a few veterinarians over the phone.

A letter written by Federation of Small Animal Practioners’ Association of India mentions: “threats and abusive language” “several times in the past”. The letter goes on to state that the “behaviour hurts sentiments of passionate, hardworking veterinarians”.

Dr R

Jayaprakash

, president of Federation of Small Animal Practitioners’ Association of India (FSAPAI), said that the protests were held all over the country. “This behaviour has upset us. We have in the past raised objection to her behaviour, but we never got any response from her,” he said, adding that if the behaviour continues, the vets’ body would resort to legal action.

Dr

C B Singh

, vice-president of FSAPAI, said, “What has hurt us the most is the threats and abusive language used against vets and the veterinary profession… Also, Gandhi is not qualified to interfere with any veterinary doctor or the profession.”

Such behaviour will naturally affect the morale of young veterinary students, said Dr Dhananjay Bapat president of Pet Practitioners’ Association of Mumbai. “Why would any newcomer ever want to get into the profession?”