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Steven Seagal writes to Sonia on animal rights

Hollywood star Steven Seagal has urged India's opposition leader Sonia Gandhi to support amendments to a law to impose deterrent fines on those who are cruel to animals.

Writing on behalf of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, he said the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, "passed four decades ago, has never been updated and imposes only minimal fines even for the most heinous crimes".

Pointing out that the fine for any violation of the act is a mere Rs 50, he said: "This is hardly a deterrent to those who abuse animals. Amendments that add teeth to the existing act are a pressing need."

In her response, Gandhi assured Seagal that she had taken note of his views and appreciated his interest.

"Perhaps the most poignant example of the law's shortcomings is the unlawful treatment of Indian cattle, sheep, goats and other animals during transport to slaughterhouses," Seagal said in a statement.

"The practice of illegally overloading animals in ill-suited lorries, while in blatant violation of the law, occurs with intolerable frequency and results in hideous cases of injury. In these cramped conditions, the struggling animals cannot help but fall, break their bones and crush their babies," he said.

PeTA has been leading an international movement to boycott Indian leather goods until there is improvement in the condition of the animals that are killed.

Indo-Asian News Service

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