In a contentious move sparking religious debate, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a prominent Hindu nationalist organization in India, has filed a court petition in West Bengal to halt the sharing of an enclosure by two lions, Sita and Akbar. The lioness Sita and lion Akbar are named after revered figures in Hindu mythology and a historical Muslim emperor, respectively.
The VHP’s objection stems from what they perceive as an affront to Hindu sentiments, particularly due to the association of Akbar with Mughal rule, a period viewed by some Hindu groups as oppressive. Anup Mondal, a VHP official, decried the cohabitation as blasphemous and an infringement upon Hindu beliefs.
Critics view this move as a manifestation of growing religious intolerance in India, exacerbated under the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. With general elections looming, the issue underscores the polarizing effects of religious identity in Indian politics.
Mondal revealed that Akbar had previously been named after the Hindu deity Rama in Tripura, a state controlled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but the name was changed upon the lion’s relocation to West Bengal, governed by the opposition Trinamool Congress. The VHP’s petition also calls for a prohibition on assigning religious names to animals in zoos.
The West Bengal forest department has responded by separating the lions pending the court’s decision. The case is scheduled for a hearing on February 20th, stirring anticipation regarding the outcome of this clash between religious sensitivities and zoological practices.
