Indian politician sacrifices 200 goats and four buffalo
31 July 2008 by Stardust
Religious superstition makes time stand still.
As Sangeeta Goswami, head of the Assam chapter of the activist group, People for Animals said, “It is strange when India talks of progress in science and technology and is clamping down on child marriages, it is allowing such practices as animal sacrifices in temples”.
LINK: Indian politician sacrifices 200 goats to mark win
GAUHATI, India - A lawmaker said he sacrificed more than 200 goats and four buffaloes at a temple in northeastern India to thank a goddess for delivering victory to the prime minister’s government last week.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Congress party survived the July 22 confidence vote after weeks of political uncertainty that nearly toppled the government.
The last-minute support of Kishor Samrite’s Samajwadi party, a one-time opponent, was key to the victory.
And since Sunday, Samrite has been participating in rituals at the 16th-century Kamakhya temple in Gauhati, the capital of the northeastern state of Assam.
Animal sacrifices are traditional rituals at the hilltop temple, a famous Hindu pilgrimage destination.
The animal sacrifices have sparked controversy, however, as animal rights activists have held street demonstrations near the temple protesting Samrite’s prayer ceremonies.
“Animals cannot just be sacrificed for the interest of political leaders,” said Sangeeta Goswami, head of the Assam chapter of the activist group, People for Animals.
This politician may be doing this to keep people clinging to their insane superstitions in order to control them like many in power have done throughout the centuries. Using religion to keep the sheeple in line has been a political tactic even in western culture. Using religion is also a tool, as we see in our own country of getting elected to powerful positions. However, if this Indian politician truly believes his imaginary goddess friend is pleased with the slaughtering of innocent animals, then he is a very deluded individual who is perpetuating superstition and magical thinking and doing his people more harm than good.
31 July 2008, on 2:19 pm
“How can anyone interfere with a religious practice inside a temple complex?” he (Samrite) asked.
This is essentially what the Texas Supreme Court ruled recently in regards to the exorcism performed by the church congregation on a young female church member. Doesn’t sound much different, does it?
31 July 2008, on 3:29 pm
JWS, Yes, it’s pretty much the same things. Allowing violence and torture in the name of religion is okay. But in any other setting these things are criminal offenses and people are arrested and locked up.
I know some will say that cows, pigs, chickens etc are lined up and “ritually sacrificed” in slaughterhouses daily in our country. Is there a difference? People buy the meat and many people pray to thank their god for their beefsteak, lambchops, fried chicken etc. So, it’s kind of a reverse animal sacrifice.
I have been a vegetarian for nearly a year now and could never go back to eating meat.
31 July 2008, on 7:11 pm
This reminds me of the lame RPGs people play — perhaps the India lawmaker was trying to “level up” by killing a bunch of innocuous animals?
31 July 2008, on 8:06 pm
Two words.
Goat Tacos!
Oh, wait, what do you mean we can’t eat that delicious charred flesh? Okay, I’m voting for that dude’s opponent.
31 July 2008, on 8:24 pm
Mmm, goat; we make a dish in the Dominican Republic that’s delish: the goat meat is cooked in tomato sauce with garlic and onions and a dash of beer (well, at least my mom puts beer in it)…
On the other hand, poor buffaloes; I guess only cows merit the status of “sacred animals,” not their cousins! I bet your first thought is right, Star, and the politician is trying to “drug” his constituents into docility (”religion is the opiate of the masses,” yadda yadda yadda).
31 July 2008, on 11:04 pm
Well, if the meat of the goats went to feed the starving of his village, I won’t complain.
1 August 2008, on 10:14 am
This is just gross on too many levels. Two hundred? “Okay” [kill a goat] “how many was that? Who is supposed to be counting?”
1 August 2008, on 11:06 am
I’m trying to find out what they did with the animals. If they simply burned them or let them rot, that was a totally senseless act.
1 August 2008, on 3:20 pm
Scape-water buffaloes??? Oh, now that’s just too close to cows to be right. Some Hindu god has GOT to be pissed. I predict a retaliation of some sort. Perhaps a great case of cow constipation. The hindus will have a mass shortage of their sacred cow poop to bless their homes and make bricks and well, shit out of.
5 August 2008, on 5:03 pm
Ha ha…How very ass backwards! Next thing you know, Sunny Perdue will be sacrificing chickens and jack rabbits at the Capitol stops in ATL to thank his god for sending him rain