A bizarre protest unfolded at the Khandwa Collectorate on Tuesday when a man arrived wearing a giant dog costume to highlight the city’s growing stray dog problem, turning a routine public hearing into an unusual Khandwa stray dog protest.
Man wears dog costume at public hearing
According to an Amar Ujala report, Deepak alias Mullu Rathore, Leader of the Opposition in the Khandwa Municipal Corporation, brought the costumed man to the officials’ table during the Jan Sunwai.
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The unusual appearance immediately drew attention and reportedly aimed to highlight residents’ concerns over the increasing number of stray dogs and dog-bite incidents in Khandwa.
The Khandwa stray dog protest also raised serious allegations against the municipal corporation over its dog sterilisation programme.
₹40 lakh sterilisation allegation
Rathore alleged that officials had billed around ₹40 lakh for sterilising stray dogs, despite no dogs allegedly undergoing the procedure. He claimed irregularities in the scheme had contributed to the worsening stray dog situation and rising concerns among residents.
The allegations have not been established as fact. However, Khandwa Additional Collector Kashi Ram Badole confirmed that the administration had received a complaint concerning the alleged ₹40 lakh expenditure.
Badole said the administration had taken up the matter with the Municipal Commissioner. He added that action would follow if an investigation found the allegations to be true.
The Khandwa stray dog protest has since attracted attention online because of the unusual dog costume used to draw attention to the civic issue.
The incident comes amid wider concerns over stray dog management and sterilisation programmes in several Indian cities. The issue has also triggered legal and administrative debates over balancing public safety with animal welfare.
For more updates on unusual civic protests and local issues, readers can follow Kiddaan’s latest news coverage.
FAQs
Q: What happened during the Khandwa stray dog protest?
A: A man wearing a giant dog costume appeared at the Khandwa Collectorate during a public hearing to highlight the stray dog problem.
Q: Why was the Khandwa stray dog protest organised?
A: Mullu Rathore used the protest to raise concerns about stray dogs, dog bites and alleged irregularities in a ₹40 lakh sterilisation programme.
Q: What did the administration say about the allegations?
A: Additional Collector Kashi Ram Badole said the complaint had been taken up with the Municipal Commissioner and action would follow if the allegations were proven.