RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat on August 14, argued that the ongoing stray dog crisis in Delhi requires long-term solutions focused on population control rather than temporary measures like relocating them to shelters. “The problem can be solved only by regulating the population of street dogs. But it cannot be resolved by putting stray dogs in shelters,” Dr Bhagwat said while addressing a congregation of over 500 saints at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack.
The Supreme Court had recently directed Delhi-NCR authorities to confine stray dogs to shelters after a suo motu case was taken up on July 28. The move came in response to alarming media reports of rising dog-bite incidents, particularly among children, which also led to fatal rabies infections.
A veterinary science graduate, Dr Bhagwat used traditional Indian practices to illustrate the need for harmony between humans and nature. Citing the example of villagers leaving some milk for calves while milking cows, he said, “This is the art of striking a balance between man and nature. Nature should be conserved by maintaining a balance between development and environment.”
He further emphasised how India’s agrarian traditions reflect a respect for ecological balance. Contrasting Indian practices with European exploitation of land in Africa, Bhagwat remarked, “Indian soil is fertile because our farmers do not extract more from the earth. They use Mother Earth to produce grains required for consumption, unlike the Europeans who destroyed the soil in Africa by using excessive fertilisers for maximum grain production.”
Following his Cuttack address, Bhagwat visited the Govardhan Peeth in Puri to seek blessings from Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati. He also paid respects at the Shree Jagannath Temple.
