Angered by the sacrifice, the Indian wing of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) shot off a letter to Dhoni, asking him to refrain from such cruel acts in future.
Claiming they had been flooded with calls and e-mails from ‘horrfied’ people, PETA India’s chief functionary Anuradha Sawhney reminded Dhoni that he was a role model to his innumerable fans.
“I hope that, upon reflection, you have come to regret your decision to tarnish your triumph with cruelty to animals,” she wrote in the letter.
Asserting that such act has no place in Indian culture, Sawhney said along with other age-old practices like sati, child marriage and cast differentiation, sacrificing animals was banned in several states and Dhoni did not adhere to the law by killing the goat.
“As a talented athlete, you are a role model for young people. We hope that you will consider the enormous influence you have over the children and in the future refrain from cruel acts that your young fans might be inspired to imitate,” the letter read.
