Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 13: The Shiv Sena (UBT) has thrown its weight behind the Supreme Court’s recent decisions that uphold restrictions on feeding pigeons in Mumbai and call for the relocation of stray dogs in Delhi and NCR to shelter homes. In a hard-hitting editorial published in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray-led faction took aim at what it called "distorted compassion" being propagated under the guise of religious belief.

Calling the apex court’s directives "logical and necessary," the editorial underscored the growing public health crisis caused by unchecked feeding of pigeons and the rising menace of stray dog attacks in urban areas.

The editorial pulled no punches, stating:

“Every year, thousands die in road and railway accidents, yet there's silence. But when pigeons and stray dogs are regulated for public safety, a section of society erupts in outrage, some even threatening violence to defend bird feeding in the name of religion.”

Citing expert medical testimony submitted to the Bombay High Court, the editorial highlighted the health hazards posed by pigeon droppings, feathers, and saliva — which have been linked to severe lung diseases, particularly in children, the elderly, and women over 60. The court had previously directed the closure of public pigeon houses (kabutar khanas), a move the party strongly supports.

The party also praised the Supreme Court’s order for municipal authorities to relocate stray dogs to shelters outside populated areas within eight weeks, saying it is a vital step to curb the rising number of dog bites and rabies cases.

“In the past five years, over two crore people have been bitten by dogs, more than a thousand have died of rabies, and many have been left disabled. Stray dogs roam unchecked, attacking children and terrorising morning walkers. This is no longer a minor nuisance — it’s a public safety emergency.”

The editorial criticised what it termed a growing “cult of ghost mercy” — a term used to mock perceived excessive compassion shown toward animals at the cost of human welfare. It questioned religious leaders who claimed they would "take up arms" to protect the act of feeding pigeons, calling such rhetoric a dangerous distortion of religious teachings.

“Lord Mahavira never supported recklessness. Hinduism too does not call for feeding biting dogs with government-supplied foodgrains. Yet today, religious emotion is weaponised to oppose basic civic health measures.”

The Saamana piece also took aim at politicians and animal rights activists, including PETA and Maneka Gandhi, for focusing on animal welfare while ignoring the plight of millions living in poverty, hunger, and disease.

It closed by reiterating that both the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court based their decisions on expert evidence, not emotion, and that public health must take precedence over misapplied religious sentiment.

“People are starving and dying in this country, yet some are more concerned about pigeons and stray dogs. We must ask: Is this true compassion, or is it misplaced priority?”

In a rare FAQ-style breakdown, the editorial further explained the health impact of pigeon droppings, increasing dog attacks, and the importance of strictly following court-mandated policies to protect public well-being.

Shiv Sena (UBT)’s support for the court’s orders places it firmly in the camp of prioritizing human lives and health over what it sees as performative compassion for animals — particularly when backed by threats or communal tension.