New Delhi (Agency): In an unusual protest, villagers in the Sirauli area of Aonla, Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, blocked the convoy of the state’s Animal Husbandry Minister, Dharampal Singh, on Thursday by bringing stray animals onto the road. The incident occurred while the minister was on his way to attend a program.
Minister Dharampal Singh, along with Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Rajneesh Dubey, was heading for the ‘bhoomi pujan’ (groundbreaking ceremony) of an animal polyclinic. This new facility, to be established at a cost of Rs 9.14 crore in Aonla tehsil’s Gurgaon, will provide round-the-clock care for animals. However, locals from Pipariya Uprala village chose this opportunity to draw the minister’s attention to the issue of stray cattle.
The villagers’ act of protest caused the minister’s convoy to be stuck in the commotion for about 40 minutes. According to SDM Govind Ram Maurya, the villagers were eventually persuaded to clear the road after the minister gave them assurance regarding the issue.
Interestingly, the villagers’ actions were triggered by the posting of sweepers to ensure the road remained clean and free of obstructions, including stray animals, in view of the minister’s program. When the villagers learned about this, they intentionally brought hundreds of stray cattle and set them loose on the road.
Upon learning about the chaos, the SDM and Inspector Sisauli reached the location, only to encounter angry locals who engaged in a scuffle with them.
The villagers later protested directly in front of the minister, raising the issue of stray cattle when his convoy arrived at the scene. The SDM stated, “Minister Dharampal Singh explained to the villagers and assured them that a cow shelter will soon be set up after identifying land of the gram sabha in the area.”
The problem of stray cattle has been a significant concern in the region, and it was prominently raised by opposition parties during the state assembly elections last year.
The villagers’ unique method of protest by using stray cattle to block the minister’s convoy not only brought attention to a local issue but also resulted in a direct assurance from the minister. The incident underscores the growing frustration among locals regarding the stray cattle problem and the pressure on officials to find tangible solutions. The promised cow shelter could be a step toward resolving this long-standing issue in the community.