Remember the popular dialogue from the superhit film Pushpa 2: The Rule: “Gangamma jatharalo pottelu tala narikinattu okkokkadinee rappa.. rappa..”?
This dialogue later took on a political colour, with YSR Congress Party workers displaying posters at meetings and rallies carrying the slogan: “Rappa, rappa in 2029,” suggesting that the party would take revenge on leaders of the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition for allegedly targeting YSRCP cadre.
What made matters worse was that, in some places, YSRCP supporters reportedly slit the throats of sheep and performed symbolic “blood baths” on portraits of party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, signalling violent retaliation against political rivals.
Now, the Gangamma Jathara itself; where animal sacrifices are traditionally performed to appease the deity; has returned to the spotlight.
Former Union minister and noted animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi has written a strongly worded letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu opposing large-scale animal sacrifices during the upcoming Gangamma Jathara in Tirupati, scheduled for May 18 and 19.
According to Maneka Gandhi, thousands of animals are expected to be sacrificed during the festival. Describing the practice as “mass slaughter carried out in the name of devotion,” she urged the state government to intervene immediately and stop the ritual killings.
In her letter, she said the entire country was watching developments in Tirupati and warned that such practices damage India’s cultural image.
She also pointed out that laws against cruelty to animals already exist, but weak implementation in some regions has allowed these practices to continue.
The BJP leader cited examples from states such as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, where animal sacrifices have either been banned or replaced with symbolic offerings such as coconuts.
“Normalising violence in the name of culture is dangerous,” she said, adding that encouraging bloodshed through religious customs could gradually desensitise society to violence.
