Sonam Bajwa, Rupinder Handa questions CM Bhagwant Mann over Punjab’s stray dog action

Punjabi actor Sonam Bajwa has raised her voice against the Punjab government’s planned action on stray and aggressive dogs. Through an Instagram post, she appealed directly to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, asking the government to adopt a ideal and practical solution instead of turning the campaign into what she described as a “death sentence for voiceless animals.”

Sonam Bajwa questions CM Bhagwant Singh Mann for dog shelters

Soam Bajwa clarified that the Supreme Court had not ordered the mass elimination of stray dogs. According to her, the court only spoke about regulated removal from sensitive public areas along with sterilisation, vaccination and proper sheltering facilities.

In a post on X, CM Mann said the campaign aims to remove “stray and killer dogs” that pose a threat to children and passersby. He thanked the Supreme Court for its verdict and said the drive would begin immediately across Punjab. The Supreme Court stated that human safety and the right to live with dignity must be given priority when public lives are at risk from dangerous canines.

“Where Are the Shelters?” questions Sonam Bajwa

Questioning the government’s preparedness, Sonam Bajwa asked important questions about the infrastructure needed to handle the issue responsibly. “Where are the shelters? Where is the infrastructure?” she wrote in her post. She stressed that while public safety and human lives are extremely important, compassion and responsibility towards animals also matter equally. Bajwa appealed to the Punjab government to rethink its strategy and focus on humane measures such as shelters, vaccination drives and sterilisation programmes. The actor also suggested that the government should involve animal welfare NGOs, veterinarians, local authorities and public safety experts to create a balanced and sensitive solution for both people and stray animals.

Rupinder Handa Also Voices Concern

Punjabi singer Rupinder Handa also shared her concern over the issue through a video message. She said every living being has the right to live and added that no one can decide which animal deserves to survive. Rupinder Handa stated that killing stray dogs cannot be the answer because it is impossible to identify every dangerous dog. Instead, she supported the idea of building shelters and finding safer, humane alternatives.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sonam Bajwa (@sonambajwa)

Punjab Government’s Campaign against stray dogs

The controversy began after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the Punjab government would launch a campaign against stray and dangerous dogs following a recent Supreme Court verdict. On May 19, the Supreme Court allowed euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill, aggressive and dangerous dogs in order to protect human lives. The court observed that the right to live safely and move freely without fear of attacks falls under Article 21 of the Constitution.

While the government says the move is necessary for public safety, celebrities like Sonam Bajwa believe the solution should protect both human lives and animal welfare. As Bajwa said, “How we treat the voiceless ultimately reflects who we are as a society.”