Animal welfare group or gau rakshaks? What we know about Maneka Gandhi's PFA

Three men transporting buffaloes in a truck were allegedly attacked by members of animal rights activist group People for Animals in the Kalkaji area of south east Delhi, following which cross-complaints were registered. While the FIR mentions the PFA members, the group has denied involvement.

As per the complaint filed by those transporting the cattle, the unidentified assailants were members of the PFA - an NGO founded and chaired by Union minister Maneka Gandhi. However, the animal rights body has denied any association with the incident.  Maneka Gandhi's office, too, sought to deny any link between the incident and the PFA's activities. "We have no PFA unit in Delhi. We have 10,000 volunteers across the country. Whoever acted did so in his individual capacity," Gandhi's office said. 

Gandhi's office also shared a letter from the PFA issued last year to Gaurav Gupta, one of the accused, warning him against taking law and order in his hand in cases of animals being treated cruelly. The letter also says that Gupta is not authorised to "trespass" or "seize animals/goods" from any individual. 

"Any acts committed by you in contravention of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act will be deemed to have been done in your personal capacity," the letter written by Gauri Maulekhi, Trustee, the PFA said, after several similar incidents in the past.

Maulekhi told PTI, "The PFA does not issue any vehicle sticker. Also, the two brothers have a propensity and history of such acts from which we completely disassociate ourselves. We can't be moral guardians of lakhs of people who pay Rs 100 and become members of the PFA. If they have done anything illegal they should be penalised."

Meanwhile, police have also been informed that Gaurav Gupta's membership had ended with the PFA. The NGO later in the day disabled it website wherein the brothers were mentioned as members of its Delhi unit. 

Strangely enough, the website for the organisation, in its contact details mentions its address as being that of Maneka Gandhi’s residence, 14, Ashoka Road, New Delhi. The email address given is ‘.nic’ hosted, which is used by only government officials. PFA is a non-government body. The email address name is ‘gandhim’ and ‘pplforanimals’.

Since Sunday afternoon the website has however gone offline citing technical issues. According to an article in Indian Express, the website stated (before going offline), “Every day brave People for Animals raiding team seize over trucks that are taking cattles for illegal slaughtering.  With a courage in heart and passion in their souls, they try and rescue these cattle  by any means possible. Most of these animals are also found sick or injured on the streets. They are then brought to The Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre India’s oldest and largest all-animal shelter, homes some 3,000 animals. Of these, approximately 1500 are cattle i.e. cows, oxen, bulls and calves. As most of these are animals rescued by brave People For Animals (PFA) teams from illegal traffickers smuggling them for slaughter, SGACC is only such large animal hospital to provide shelters to more than 1500 cattles in India.”

PFA is an animal rights organisation that claims to be the largest in India. The aim of the group is stated as being, the opening of an animal welfare centre in every district of India. The group runs animal shelters, ambulance services, rehabilitation, sterilisation and medical treatment for animals as well as running disaster rescue operations. The Organization also runs a donation seeking cow welfare program. It plans to ensure the creation of government funded cow shelters in all locales.

PFA has lobbied for animal related issues in areas such as education and lawmaking and discourages cruelty to animals and eating meat. It promises to ensure implementation by taking “direct action through units to protect animals and punish offenders”.

With inputs from agencies