KOCHI:Industrialist and Stray Dog-free Movement chairman Kochouseph Chittilappilly will stage a 24-hour hunger strike at Marine Drive here on Sunday, demanding solution for the stray dog menace in the State. The film fraternity, social and cultural leaders and various organisations have expressed solidarity with the strike called by Chittilappilly.
The strike will begin at 10:00 on Sunday and conclude at 10:00 am on Monday. Special functions will be held at 10:00 am and 5:00 pm on Sunday and at 10:00 am on Monday as part of the strike. Also, meet-the-press programmes will be held at 10:30 am and 5:30 pm on Sunday and 10:30 am on Monday. Besides, videos featuring comments of prominent personalities on the issue will be screened.
Kochouseph Chittilappilly said the protest was only a token strike, and that more intense protests would be launched if the authorities continued their alleged apathy towards the issue. He said the decision to stage the strike was taken after witnessing the problems caused by stray dogs. Slogans coined for the protest include ‘Rename Animal Welfare Board of India as the Dog Welfare Board’ and ‘Vote Only for Candidates Who Assure a Solution for Stray Dog Menace’. Various demands, including a call for justice from the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and steps to trace source of the ‘Boycott Kerala Tourism’ campaign, will be raised during the strike.
Gesture of Solidarity
Meanwhile, the Kerala Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce has expressed solidarity with the hunger strike called by Kochouseph Chittilappilly, which is scheduled to be held on Sunday.
In a press statement issued here on Saturday, Chamber general secretary P S Paul said it was unfortunate that the State Government was reluctant to take steps to end the stray dog menace.