Ram Gopal Varma slams stray dogs verdict, calls out ‘selective sympathy’ of animal lovers

The recent Supreme Court decision ordering that all street dogs in Delhi-NCR be moved into shelters has sparked a heated debate. While many Bollywood celebrities have spoken out against the ruling on stray dogs, calling it unfair to animals, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has strongly criticized this view.

The director of films like ‘Sarkar’ and ‘Rangeela’ argued that people are ignoring the pain of human victims who have been attacked by stray dogs. In his words, “While people are being bitten and killed by strays, dog lovers are busy tweeting about dog rights.”

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Varma believes there is nothing wrong with keeping pets at home. But he finds it insensitive when people preach compassion for strays while neglecting the victims. He pointed out what he sees as a harsh reality: “Rich people keep high-bred pets, but poor people are the ones mauled and killed by stray dogs. That’s the class divide no one wants to talk about.”

Here are my 10 points addressing the DOG LOVERS who are UPSET about the SUPREME COURT’S decision on STRAY DOGS

1. People are being bitten and killed all over by stray dogs. And dog lovers are busy tweeting about dog rights.https://t.co/9RLkoJdqOE can love your pets in your…

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 16, 2025

The filmmaker also posed a sharp question for animal rights advocates: “If a man kills, he’s a murderer. If a dog kills, you call it an ‘accident.’ So does that mean if humans kill like animals, we should also call it an accident?”

He accused some dog lovers of showing what he called “selective sympathy.” According to Ram Gopal Varma, people cry for stray dogs but not for those who lose their children, parents, or loved ones in dog attacks. He said this one-sided compassion is unfair and deeply hurtful for victims’ families.

Also Read: Bhumi Pednekar urges humane reforms amid Supreme Court’s stray dogs order

Going further, the ‘Shool’ director challenged animal lovers directly. Instead of simply saying “don’t kill strays,” he suggested they adopt the dogs themselves. “Why don’t you take them home?” he asked. “Is it because you think they’re dirty, diseased, or because you don’t want to risk your own family’s safety?”

For him, compassion must come with fairness. “Compassion without justice is not compassion,” he said. “It is cruelty disguised as kindness.”

Varma also noted that most stray dog attacks do not happen in wealthy, gated communities but in open, unprotected areas. He accused privileged pet owners of ignoring the struggles of the poor, who face the danger of stray dogs daily.

Adding more bite to his criticism, the director said that if dog lovers are so active on social media, they should also create hashtags for grieving mothers who watch their children being mauled by strays.

Finally, Varma made it clear that he is not against animals living. He said, “All animals have a right to live. But not at the cost of human lives.”