In a political twist that has taken many by surprise, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has publicly criticized his party’s own government in Karnataka for its latest initiative a cooked meals for stray dogs in Bengaluru. The Congress-led Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has reportedly floated a Rs 2.8 crore tender to feed chicken and egg rice to stray dogs across the city’s eight zones, covering approximately 600 to 700 dogs per zone. What was announced as an animal welfare initiative has spiralled into a political controversy, raising eyebrows within Congress circles.
While Karti’s comments on the initiative appear rooted in public health and urban safety concerns, political observers believe there may be more to his criticism. Given Siddaramaiah’s close relationship with Rahul Gandhi which played a key role in his elevation as Chief Minister over state party president DK Shivakumar Karti’s open rebuke could be seen as a veiled attempt to send a political message to the high command as party circles believe he is not in the good books of Rahul Gandhi.
Mid-Day Meals for Stray Dogs: A First in India
BBMP’s Rs 2.8 crore project aims to provide daily meat-based meals to stray dogs, citing poor health and increasing aggression among street dogs as primary concerns. The civic body has stated that a collaboration involving animal activists, hotel owners, pourakarmikas (sanitation workers), and Health Department officials will be established to implement the plan.
Special Commissioner for Animal Husbandry Suralkar Vikas Kishor had earlier defended the move, saying the lack of nutrition was a contributing factor in the growing number of aggressive dog incidents in Bengaluru. According to the BBMP, this scheme is a pilot step in animal welfare, and the ultimate aim is to reduce conflicts between stray animals and citizens.
However, the decision has attracted widespread criticism for being tone-deaf to the city’s more pressing needs, such as potholes, garbage clearance, and inadequate public infrastructure. Critics, including Karti Chidambaram, argue that the Congress government is prioritising strays over the basic needs of tax-paying citizens.
Congress vs Congress: Cracks Widen Over Governance Style
Karti Chidambaram, in a tweet that went viral, lashed out at the initiative saying: “Dogs have no place on the streets. They need to be relocated to shelters, vaccinated and sterilized. Feeding them while they freely roam is a health and safety hazard.”
Karti’s pointed criticism puts him at odds not just with the BBMP, but with Siddaramaiah himself, who enjoys the unwavering backing of Rahul Gandhi. Political analysts suggest that Karti’s remarks may be more than just about stray dogs they could reflect larger dissatisfaction within Congress ranks about Siddaramaiah’s unilateral style of governance. Is Karti subtly calling out Rahul Gandhi’s choice of CM by mocking his pet leader’s decisions?
Dog Bite Epidemic: A Growing Public Safety Concern
The outrage over the BBMP’s dog meal scheme is compounded by the rising number of dog bite cases across India. In 2023 alone, India recorded over 1.8 crore dog bite incidents. Urban centers like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai have reported alarming spikes, especially in residential areas and near schools.
Experts have long warned that simply feeding stray animals without sterilization and sheltering can lead to more aggressive behavior and a surge in their population. According to health officials, many stray dogs remain unvaccinated, increasing the risk of rabies a disease that claims thousands of lives annually in India.
Citizens in Bengaluru have taken to social media to vent their frustration. One post read: “BBMP has funds for feeding dogs gourmet meals but potholes continue to kill more people every week than stray animals ever have.”
Governance or Optics? Public Divided Over Priorities
While animal welfare activists have welcomed the move as a humane step, taxpayers and civic groups argue that the Congress government’s priorities are misplaced. BBMP claims the project is aimed at controlling dog aggression, yet offers little on sterilization, sheltering or vaccination key components in effective stray management.
There are also allegations of this being a money-making opportunity disguised as animal welfare. Critics claim that with little transparency and ground-level monitoring, the Rs 2.8 crore could easily be siphoned off, as is alleged with many other BBMP projects. “Will the dogs really eat the food, or is this just another way to feed someone else?” asked a viewer during a Kannada news debate.
Animal Welfare or Political Optics?
The Karnataka government’s move to fund cooked meals for stray dogs has revealed deeper fissures within the Congress party and stirred public anger in Bengaluru. With Karti Chidambaram openly criticizing a project under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, the issue has morphed from a civic policy matter into a political flashpoint. While the intention of animal welfare may be noble, the lack of focus on sterilization, safety, and core urban issues makes this scheme look more like a headline-grabbing stunt than a real solution. As dog bites surge and urban infrastructure crumbles, Bengaluru residents are left wondering: is this governance or theatre?
