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India politician charged after donkey ride to file papers
Independent candidate Mani Bhushan Sharma arrives on a donkey to file his nomination documents at a local election office in Jehanabad, in the Indian state of Bihar on May 1, 2019. PHOTO | STR | AFP
What you need to know:
- Mani Bhushan Sharma, a perennial long-shot candidate, filed his nomination papers on Monday followed by a short donkey ride outside the local election office in Jehanabad town, eastern Bihar state.
- Mr Sharma defended his actions, saying it was symbolic to show the plight of common people that are taken for a ride by politicians.
- Convictions under the animal cruelty law -- that mostly deal with physical harm, violence or abandonment of animals -- can result in fines or prison terms up to seven years.
NEW DELHI,
Indian police charged a would-be election candidate with animal cruelty Wednesday after he rode a donkey to file his application for the national ballot.
