When the lioness living with the lion ‘Akbar’ was named Sita, the Bengal unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had called it an insult to Hindu religion. Expressing opposition to keeping it together, VHP had filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court on 16 February.
पश्चिम बंगाल: चिड़ियाघर में विश्व हिंदू परिषद को दिखा ‘लव जिहाद’, हाई कोर्ट ने दिया शेर और शेरनी के नाम बदलने का आदेश
In West Bengal, there was so much uproar over the naming of a lion and a lioness that the High Court ordered to change the name. The lion and lioness kept in the same enclosure in Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri were named ‘Akbar’ and ‘Sita. Controversy started regarding naming. The matter reached the High Court. The court has asked to give some other name to the lion and lioness, so that the controversy can be calmed down.
Controversy over ‘Akbar’ and ‘Sita’
When the lioness living with the lion ‘Akbar’ was named Sita, the Bengal unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had called it an insult to Hindu religion. On February 16, VHP filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court protesting against its inclusion. According to India Today report, VHP said in the petition that Akbar was a Mughal ruler. And Sita is revered by Hindus. Along with changing the name, there was a demand to keep both of them separate.
Additional Advocate General Debjyoti Chaudhary, appearing in the court on behalf of the state government, told the court that the lion and the lioness were brought from the zoo of Tripura. The state government had not named the animals.
After hearing the arguments, the High Court ordered to change the names. Justice Bhattacharya said during the hearing,
“Would you yourself name your pet after a Hindu god or a Muslim prophet? I guess, if any of us had that power, no one would name them Akbar and Sita. Would any of us Who can think of naming an animal after Rabindranath Tagore?”
The court further said that a large section of the country worships Sita. He commented,
“I also oppose naming the lion after Akbar. He was an efficient, successful and secular Mughal emperor.”
The state government told the court that before shifting to West Bengal, the names of both the animals had already been given in 2016 and 2018. At the same time, Forest Department officials also said that they have not changed the names of lion and lioness. His name had already been kept before coming here on 13th February.
After the intervention of the High Court, the state government agreed to change the names of lion and lioness.
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