While Mussoorie MlA Ganesh Joshi has continued to maintain his innocence, animal welfare organisations have written to the Vidhan Sabha speaker and the BJP national president seeking action against Joshi for causing injury to police horse Shaktiman.
Humane Society International (HSI)- India, People For Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India have sought action against Joshi with PFA also offering to shelter the disabled animal for life at its equine shelter in Sahaspur.
PFA Uttarakhand member secretary Gauri Maulekhi who is also advisor to Women and Child Development minister Maneka Gandhi, has written to DGP BS Sidhu seeking action against Joshi. She also quoted the Union minister as stating that "I feel sad also because the entire BJP has come into disrepute because of this one man's actions. He should be expelled from the party without delay”. The PFA will oppose bail application of the MlA,” added Maulekhi.
HSI India managing director NG Jayasimha wrote to assembly speaker GS Kunjwal stating that “it was unbecoming of an elected representative to be treating a harmless police horse with such cruelty and callousness”.
He said, “Such treatment demonstrates unconstitutional behavior of a public servant in violation of Article 51 A (g) of the Indian constitution which makes it the fundamental duty of every Indian citizen to have compassion for all living creatures. He also violated IPC sections 188, 353, 425, 428, 429 and section 11(1) (a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” said Jayasimha.
PETA CEO Poorva Joshipura also wrote to Kunjwal and BJP national president Amit Shah seeking action against the MlA “on the grounds of extreme and criminal misconduct”. Joshipura said “Under the PCA Act, it is illegal to beat, overload, torture or otherwise subjecting any animal to unnecessary pain or suffering. Keeping in mind the standard that must be set by leaders and MlAs, we urge the speaker and BJP national president to take disciplinary action against Joshi,” she said.