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PM tells states to prevent cruel practices in leather trade

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday urged provincial heads of the country's 26 states to take steps to prevent cruelty against animals used in the country's leather trade.

"Steps need to be initiated for enforcing existing laws and associating with non-governmental organisations to achieve the objective of more humane treatment to animals," Vajpayee said in a letter to the provincial heads.

"Our inability to protect our animals against the greed of unscrupulous traders in their mindless pursuit of wealth has led to this terrible situation," the letter added.

Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran on Saturday told state administrations to set up watchdog agencies to check complaints of cruel practices allegedly existing in the trade.

The watchdog agencies would also have representatives from the leather trade and members of animal rights groups monitor the transportation of animals to slaughterhouses.

The government has taken these steps after US-based animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, on Wednesday suspended its campaign against India's leather trade for 60 days following an agreement.

PETA said it halted its campaign after the state-run Indian Council for Leather Exports pledged to end cruelty against animals destined for the slaughter houses.

PETA earlier this week said European retailers and US J. Crew, Liz Claiborne, Clarks, Fiorucci and Florsheim had agreed to stop using leather from animals killed in India and China.

Three other US retailers -- Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic -- took the same decision earlier this year.