Kochi: Mr Kochouseph Chittilappilly, philanthropist entrepreneur and chairman of ‘Stray dog-free movement,’ has raised corruption and nepotism charges against Union Minister Maneka Gandhi and demanded her resignation. He also sought action against her for misusing her official position for personal gains and for the benefit of her trust named ‘People for Animals’ (PFA).
Mr. Chittilappally alleged at a news conference here on Monday that Ms Maneka’s PFA had been getting government grants in the name of Animal Birth Control Programme from 1998 onwards. Her trust has received a total amount of '5.83 crore from the government in the name of ABC programme till 2013-14. The programme was formally approved by the government only in 2001.
Every year, the PFA has been receiving about 10 to 23 per cent of the total funds issued as grants.
“An RTI query revealed that from 1998 to 2002, when the animal welfare department was attached to Ms. Gandhi with independent charge, she had misused her position to derive personal gains for PFA. She had created a separate department for animal welfare, while she became a Union minister in 1989, and in 1992 established PFA with the sole intention to siphon off government money,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Mr Sabu Stephen, who has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court for declaring the ABC(dogs) rules 2001 unconstitutional, alleged that the rules introduced by Ms. Gandhi were the result of a criminal conspiracy between the animal welfare organisations and anti-rabies vaccine manufacturers for siphoning off funds. He added that the rules were not valid as the gazette notification of the rules was issued in the name of ministry of culture on December 24, 2001, though the ministry has no authority to issue such a notification concerning animal welfare.
