Hema Malini named PETA Person of the Year

New Delhi: For raising her voice to oppose cruelty to animals and her staunch commitment to a vegetarian diet, veteran Bollywood actress Hema Malini has been named the person of the year by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The Dream Girl on behalf of PETA recently wrote a heartfelt appeal to the minister of Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, urging him to take immediate steps to end the cruel tradition of jallikattu, a sport event in Tamil Nadu in which terrified bulls are kicked, punched, jumped on, dragged to the ground and otherwise tormented.

Right after that the Ministry issued a notification in The Gazette of India stating that bulls can no longer be used as performing animals.

"Hemaji is the embodiment of the kindness and determination to effect positive social changes that PETA India stands for. She is loved and respected throughout India and beyond, and she has used her prestige time and again to speak up for all the voiceless animals whose abuse and oppression might otherwise go unnoticed," said Poorva Joshipura, PETA India chief functionary.