After IIT-B allows meat, PeTA says go vegan

A few days after a cafe at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-B) revoked its decision of banning non-vegetarian food, animal rights body People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) has written to the institute saying it would support its ban.

"We read about IIT-B's seemingly apologetic clarification that it has not banned non-veg food. But we are writing to ask, why not? Everyone can eat vegan foods. It doesn't hurt anyone," reads a letter by Nikunj Sharma, lead, public policy, PeTA, to IIT-B director Devang Khakhar.

PeTA's letter was appended with a graphic narration of what some creatures go through to become food. 'The beaks of female chicks to be used for eggs are painfully seared off with a hot blade while they're still just babies to prevent them from pecking each other in frustration when they're moved to cages so small they can't spread a wing before they're taken to slaughter.'

'The nation needs esteemed institutions like yours to make decisions beneficial to society based on science, even if it generates debates and discussion and even if it would temporarily "offend" meat addicts There has never been positive social change without causing some offense to vested interests, but the damage caused by meat, egg, and dairy production should matter far more. We at PeTA India stand ready to help IIT-Bombay should it consider transitioning to all-vegan menus,' the letter states.

WE’RE INCLUSIVE: IIT 

• IIT-B said that it would not ban non-veg food. “The institute does not discriminate on these grounds. The institute boasts of an inclusive culture and we continue to foster such culture,” says an official statement.