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Shadow environment secretary joins Gangotri debate
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| Condolences: Peter Ainsworth and Shailesh Vara meet Gauri Das |
A senior shadow cabinet MP visited Aldenham's Bhaktivedanta Manor on Monday to discuss the death of Gangotri the cow.
Peter Ainsworth, shadow secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was given a tour of the temple's cow protection programme by its president, Gauri Das, and watched work take place on the £3 million cattle refuge centre being built at the site, off Hilfield Lane.
Gangotri was put down at the temple last December after receiving a lethal injection from RSPCA officers.
The cow had been suffering from injuries suffered during a mating incident with a bull, and had received acupuncture and massage treatment from the temple's vets.
Members of Hindu communities across the country have protested about the circumstances of the cow's death, and representatives of the temple say they are now considering taking legal proceedings against the society to prevent holy cows being put down in the future.
Mr Ainsworth was joined on the trip by Shailesh Vara MP, shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons.
Gauri Das said: "The ministers saw the bulls working in the fields, and cows being milked.
"We all then had a tasty and enjoyable lunch with paneer curry, a curd cheese made from milk from our cows fresh that morning."
Mr Ainsworth said: "I hope that the community at Bhaktivedanta Manor will accept my sincere condolences on the loss of Gangotri.
"One of the many things which I learnt from my visit is that the temple provides a very caring environment, and I fully believe that Gangotri benefited from all possible attention and medical care.
"It will be important to establish the truth of what happened, partly so that justice can be done to Gangotri's memory, partly to ensure that the integrity of the manor is upheld, and partly so that lessons can be learnt."
Last month, Hindu community leaders criticised the "unacceptable lethargy" of the Government's response to the affair, saying they had been ignored because they had been too "quiet".
Mr Ainsworth added: "I will be asking Hilary Benn (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to report on progress since the meeting he held with representatives of the Hindu community."
Mr Vara said: "I am particularly keen to ensure that, for the future, there is a proper procedure established, so that this sort of incident does not happen again.
"We must all work together to achieve that end."
| It is important to establish the truth of what happened, so justice can be done to Gangotri's memory | | Peter Ainsworth, shadow secretary of state for environment |
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The RSPCA has repeatedly stated its belief that Gangotri could not have recovered from her injuries.
Three independent vets were involved in the decision to administer the injection.
3:19pm Wednesday 12th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: George, Watford on 7:48pm Wed 12 Mar 08
If the RSPCA made a misake they should just be honest, make amends and get on with the other good work they normally do.
Failing that let an independent investigation take place, conclude and let's move on.
The monks are good people the RSPCA are good people. Why are the government being so slow to respond. If it were another community they would most definetly be running to resolve it.
Typical reinforce bad behaviour and never acknowledge the good
If the RSPCA made a misake they should just be honest, make amends and get on with the other good work they normally do.
Failing that let an independent investigation take place, conclude and let's move on.
The monks are good people the RSPCA are good people. Why are the government being so slow to respond. If it were another community they would most definetly be running to resolve it.
Typical reinforce bad behaviour and never acknowledge the good
Posted by: Mr S Patel on 8:24pm Wed 12 Mar 08
The rspca does not have the respect of the community with behaviour like this.
the government act quickly and resolve this.
Its looks like the government is failing the Hindu community and this will show at the next election when the vote against them
The rspca does not have the respect of the community with behaviour like this.
the government act quickly and resolve this.
Its looks like the government is failing the Hindu community and this will show at the next election when the vote against them
Posted by: factoid, london on 1:15pm Thu 13 Mar 08
Oh no, just when i thought the tories were becoming decent opposition. Peter Ainsworth turns up championing cruelty to Animals! All to appease a minority group - how shallow.
Oh no, just when i thought the tories were becoming decent opposition. Peter Ainsworth turns up championing cruelty to Animals! All to appease a minority group - how shallow.
Posted by: Nimesh Mistry on 5:33pm Thu 13 Mar 08
He's not championing cruelty to animals, rather he is trying to prevent the administering of death to innocent cows by RSPCA. Whatever his motive may be, the reality is the fact that they killed an animal just because of an injury. Would you kill your old mum just because she injured a leg? i don't think so - so i don't see why there should be any difference when we treat cows.
He's not championing cruelty to animals, rather he is trying to prevent the administering of death to innocent cows by RSPCA. Whatever his motive may be, the reality is the fact that they killed an animal just because of an injury. Would you kill your old mum just because she injured a leg? i don't think so - so i don't see why there should be any difference when we treat cows.
Posted by: mcarthur, wembley on 5:39pm Thu 13 Mar 08
it appears a small amount of british public is still leaving in the colonial influence where the great british empire leaved by stealing the wealth of this so called mumbo jumbo relegion and simply could not reprocrate.It is about time the understand the beleif of the minority amd respect them
it appears a small amount of british public is still leaving in the colonial influence where the great british empire leaved by stealing the wealth of this so called mumbo jumbo relegion and simply could not reprocrate.It is about time the understand the beleif of the minority amd respect them
Posted by: Rasik, harrow on 5:53pm Thu 13 Mar 08
I agree with mcarthur that the part of the population should realize that we are no more the great empire and due the actions of our peers we have invited people of different beleifs in this country and should respect their beleifs and rituals. The main point here is RSPCA commited a illegal act and should be the subject of a legal challenge to prevent such atrocity in future irrespective wheather the tories or the labour initiates support against this criminal act.Hindus take cow as mother and can not allow such acts to go unchallenged.
I agree with mcarthur that the part of the population should realize that we are no more the great empire and due the actions of our peers we have invited people of different beleifs in this country and should respect their beleifs and rituals. The main point here is RSPCA commited a illegal act and should be the subject of a legal challenge to prevent such atrocity in future irrespective wheather the tories or the labour initiates support against this criminal act.Hindus take cow as mother and can not allow such acts to go unchallenged.
Posted by: Nick on 9:39pm Thu 13 Mar 08
The government have steadfastly refused to hold a full public inquiry into the RSPCA and its activities despite nationwide calls for one.
Over 2000 people signed the petition on the Prime Minister's website at http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/rspcainquiry/
Perhaps a new petition should be started on the same subject?
There will be no safety for animals until the RSPCA is held accountable for its actions.
The government have steadfastly refused to hold a full public inquiry into the RSPCA and its activities despite nationwide calls for one.
Over 2000 people signed the petition on the Prime Minister's website at http://petitions.pm.
gov.uk/rspcainquiry/
Perhaps a new petition should be started on the same subject?
There will be no safety for animals until the RSPCA is held accountable for its actions.
Posted by: David Tyne, amersham on 10:09pm Thu 13 Mar 08
It is excellent that the Conservatives have taken an interest in what the RSPCA are doing to ordinary farmers, pet shop owners and other people who deal in animals every day of the year. Not everyone is a rich or as well-connected as the Hindus, but Gangotri is a bear perfect example of their behaviour. The reference to "three independent vets" is two references to the complainant and some bloke who works for the RSPCA all the time.
It is excellent that the Conservatives have taken an interest in what the RSPCA are doing to ordinary farmers, pet shop owners and other people who deal in animals every day of the year. Not everyone is a rich or as well-connected as the Hindus, but Gangotri is a bear perfect example of their behaviour. The reference to "three independent vets" is two references to the complainant and some bloke who works for the RSPCA all the time.
Posted by: NicholasF, Hertfordshire on 4:33pm Fri 14 Mar 08
The problem with the RSPCA is that we expect a lot from them. We have been raised in this country to have a lot of faith in them and their work. The trouble is that they dont deserve this faith. Over time they seem to have become more money focused than actually caring for animals. They kill 6000 dogs per year.......(Hang on that is a lot of dogs). Do dog abusers collectively kill that many dogs each year? Why is the public giving them millions of pounds each year to kill dogs when the public is expecting them to care for dogs......it baffles me. They have to prosecute regularly otherwise they might be out of the public mindset. Out of the public mind means less dosh coming in to pay the nice salaries and nice buildings. They do seem to have lost their way. They are big and brutish now and it is a great sadness for animal wellbeing that this charity acts in such moneyminded ways
The problem with the RSPCA is that we expect a lot from them. We have been raised in this country to have a lot of faith in them and their work. The trouble is that they dont deserve this faith. Over time they seem to have become more money focused than actually caring for animals. They kill 6000 dogs per year.......(Hang on that is a lot of dogs). Do dog abusers collectively kill that many dogs each year? Why is the public giving them millions of pounds each year to kill dogs when the public is expecting them to care for dogs......it baffles me. They have to prosecute regularly otherwise they might be out of the public mindset. Out of the public mind means less dosh coming in to pay the nice salaries and nice buildings. They do seem to have lost their way. They are big and brutish now and it is a great sadness for animal wellbeing that this charity acts in such moneyminded ways
Posted by: HelenHolmes, Bucks on 1:53pm Sat 15 Mar 08
It may well be that politicians will take mileage from photo opportunities and vote gathering exercises. That is not surprising and to be expected. That after all is the political system of modern democracy. What is quite disturbing though is when an animal welfare charity such as the RSPCA seems to use the death of animals and prosecution of their owners as story opportunities and support gathering exercises. The general public are very quick to condemn alleged animal abusers, we saw that very graphically with the horse farm. It is very unsavory that the RSPCA are using this British sensitivity to bully pet owners who can not afford to fight the massive legal machine of the RSPCA. They use benefit from prosecution news because the money rolls in from the supporting public. What the general donor does not realize is the amount of time these prosecutions are started just for that very purpose, Fund raising and not animal welfare. A lot of terrible mischief is being done in the name of animal welfare.
It may well be that politicians will take mileage from photo opportunities and vote gathering exercises. That is not surprising and to be expected. That after all is the political system of modern democracy. What is quite disturbing though is when an animal welfare charity such as the RSPCA seems to use the death of animals and prosecution of their owners as story opportunities and support gathering exercises. The general public are very quick to condemn alleged animal abusers, we saw that very graphically with the horse farm. It is very unsavory that the RSPCA are using this British sensitivity to bully pet owners who can not afford to fight the massive legal machine of the RSPCA. They use benefit from prosecution news because the money rolls in from the supporting public. What the general donor does not realize is the amount of time these prosecutions are started just for that very purpose, Fund raising and not animal welfare. A lot of terrible mischief is being done in the name of animal welfare.
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