'Sita', 'Akbar' And Lion Behind Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Plea In Calcutta HC

‘sita’, ‘akbar’ and lion behind vishwa hindu parishad’s plea in calcutta hc

Kolkata: Hindu outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad has filed a petition in the Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench of Calcutta High Court and claimed that a lioness, named ‘Sita’, has been transferred to Bengal Safari Park in Siliguri from Tripura urging to change the name. The VHP also claimed that another lion, named ‘Akbar’ has been brought here from Tripura’s Sepahijala Zoological Park on February 12, reported PTI citing a VHP lawyer.

The north Bengal VHP unit filed the plea on February 16 praying the court to change the name of lioness as it may hurt religious sentiments. Petitioner’s advocate on record Subhankar Dutta told PTI they have also requested the court that no animal in any zoological park should be named after gods and goddesses of any religion in future.

VHP said it has learnt from media reports that a lion and lioness with markings as IL26 and IL27, respectively, have arrived at the Bengali Safari Park due to an animal exchange programme and that the lioness was named ‘Sita’.

Dutta said the matter is likely to be heard on February 20. Meanwhile, the park authorities stressed that it had not named the two animals and the official naming was awaited.

(With PTI Inputs)