Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has moved the Jalpaiguri circuit bench of Calcutta High Court against a lioness in North Bengal Wild Animals Park at Siliguri (Bengal Safari Park) being named Sita.
The plea, which is slated to be heard by the High Court on February 20, said that such an act of naming a lioness after a religious deity has hurt their religious sentiments.
"Vishwa Hindu Parishad has with deep anguish observed that a species of cat family has been named after the name of "SITA"the consort of Lord Rama and she is sacred deity to all Hindus across the world. Such act amounts to blasphemy and is a direct assault on the religious belief of all Hindus. It is mentioned here that the female Asiatic Lion housed in Alipore is named "Sruti"," said the plea filed through advocate-on-record Shubhankar Dutt.
The petitioner-organisation has prayed that action be taken to change the name of lioness from "SITA" to any other common proper name and direct Bengal Safari Park to initiate immediate steps in renaming the animal with a name that is not connected to Hindu religion.
The plea also highlighted that a lion was also brought to the park along with the lioness and a news article published by Uttar Banga Sambad said that the male lion was named Akbar.
The plea, however, objected to the lewd manner in which the same was represented.
"That to the utmost surprise of the petitioners on 14/02/2024 Uttar Banga Sambad carried a news item with the heading "Sangir Khoje astir Sita". Incidentally the male lion was given the name of "Akbar". The said article and indicated in a lewd way and represented the news in a much objection manner which was bound to hurt the religious sentiments of all Hindus across the country," the petition said.
TAGS: Wild Animals Park Siliguri Bengal Safari Park Sita religious deity religious sentiments blasphemy Hindus Lord Rama consort plea advocate-on-record Shubhankar Dutta petitioners lawyers Alipore Sruti Asiatic Lion proper name Hindu religion Akbar Uttar Banga
