New Delhi, August 12(HS): Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticised the Supreme Court’s recent directive ordering the capture and relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, calling it a cruel, short-sighted retreat from decades of humane and science-led animal welfare policy.

In a post on social media platform X on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said that these “voiceless souls” are not a problem to be eliminated. He urged that safer streets can be achieved through compassionate, non-violent measures such as sheltering, sterilisation, vaccination, and community care, without resorting to cruelty.

Comparing the Court’s mandate to “pulling the blanket away,” he accused it of stripping away societal compassion. “Public safety and animal welfare can — and must — go hand-in-hand,” Mr. Gandhi declared, stressing the need for a balanced approach that safeguards both citizens and animals. He warned that viewing street animals solely as nuisances not only dehumanises society but also undermines India’s moral and cultural values.

His remarks follow Monday’s Supreme Court order, which voiced deep concern over the rising number of stray dog attacks on children, women, and the elderly in the region. The Court directed the Delhi Municipal Corporation and New Delhi Municipal Council to take immediate steps to remove all stray dogs from public spaces.

The exchange has reignited a long-running debate over how India should balance public safety imperatives with ethical treatment of animals — with Mr. Gandhi positioning himself firmly on the side of coexistence, compassion, and evidence-based policy rather than blanket removals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar