Bengaluru, India – The Karnataka state minister for Animal Husbandry, Puttanna Gowda, publicly chastised city civic officials on Thursday after a briefing on stray dog management went off‑track.
The minister’s remarks followed an earlier incident last week when officials from the Animal Husbandry Department appeared unprepared for a scheduled meeting with the city’s municipal authorities. During that session, Gowda asked the department to provide data on the city’s stray dog population. The officials offered no substantive figures, prompting the minister to erupt in a scathing tirade, calling the officials “unprofessional” and accusing them of neglecting their duties.
In a press conference at the department’s headquarters, Gowda said the ministry was “tired of waiting for answers” and warned that repeated failures would lead to stricter oversight. He added that the department’s lack of preparedness reflected poorly on the government’s commitment to animal welfare and public safety.
The city’s municipal corporation has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident. The Animal Husbandry Department released a brief note saying it was reviewing its data collection processes and would provide updated figures by the end of the week.
The episode highlights ongoing tensions between state ministries and local civic bodies over resource allocation for stray animal control, a long‑standing issue in Bengaluru.
Analysis: The minister’s public rebuke may be aimed at pressuring the department to comply with data‑driven policy decisions, but it also risks politicising routine administrative shortcomings. If the department fails to deliver the promised figures, it could face further scrutiny from both the state government and civic watchdogs.
Sources
NDTV, “People Are Crying. Can’t You Hear? Bengaluru Minister Blasts Civic Officials,” https://www.ndtv.com/south/people-are-crying-can-you-hear-bengaluru-minister-blasts-civic-officials-11721283#publisher=newsstand
Story synopsis gathered from: NDTV – India News — source
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