Deepak (Mullu) Rathore, the Leader of Opposition in the Khandwa Municipal Corporation, brought a man in a dog costume to a public hearing Tuesday [3].
The symbolic protest highlights a growing public safety crisis in Madhya Pradesh and alleges the misappropriation of government funds intended to control the animal population.
During the hearing at the Collectorate on Aug. 18, Rathore used the costumed assistant to draw attention to a surge in stray-dog attacks [3]. The opposition leader cited data showing 13,225 dog-bite cases reported in Khandwa over the last four years [1].
Rathore is demanding a comprehensive financial and technical audit of the city's sterilization program. According to reports, the municipal corporation spent ₹40 lakh on the stray-dog sterilization scheme [1]. Rathore said the continued rise in attacks suggests the funds may have been misused or the program was improperly executed [2].
The protest comes as residents express increasing concern over the safety of public spaces. By bringing a man in a dog mask to the official proceedings, Rathore sought to make the invisible threat of the stray-dog menace visible to government officials [2].
Local authorities have not yet announced whether a formal probe into the ₹40 lakh expenditure will be launched. The demand for an audit focuses on whether the sterilization targets were met, and if the funds were spent according to technical guidelines [1].
“13,225 dog-bite cases reported in Khandwa over the last four years”
This incident reflects a broader tension in Indian urban governance between animal welfare mandates and public safety. The demand for a technical audit of the sterilization funds indicates that the political conflict is not merely about the presence of stray dogs, but about the transparency of municipal spending and the efficacy of public health interventions in Madhya Pradesh.
