Former Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel and several delegations of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Delhi held a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday calling for government action to control the growing “street dog menace” in the Capital.

Mr. Goel expressed concerns over the alarming rise in stray dog attacks, saying, “The primary victims are children, women, and the elderly. Parks have become unsafe, children have stopped playing outdoors, and people fear even stepping out for a walk.”

He said there are 7 lakh dogs in the city. “Sterilisation alone is no longer sufficient; mass relocation and proper infrastructure are necessary,” he said, adding that aggressive dogs should be relocated to designated shelters, where they can be given special care.

“It is not the responsibility of RWAs to manage stray dogs. This is the government’s duty. We need to enforce a clear and effective ‘No Dogs on Streets’ policy now”, the Mr. Goel said.

A poster at the protest site demanded ‘stern action against those feeding dogs on the street’.

Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court, while hearing a Noida-based petitioner’s plea alleging harassment in feeding stray dogs, remarked, “Why don’t you feed them in your own house?”