April 12, 2000 12:30

CRISPY'S BEEF ABOUT COWS

[b]Crispian Mills[/b] takes the Indian Prime Minister to task over the slaughter of the nation's holy cows for their hides...

Ex-Kula Shaker frontman CRISPIAN MILLS has written to the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to protest against the suffering of "once-sacred cows who are abused in the meat and leather export trades".

Crispian's written on behalf of animal rights pressure group PETA which also counts Paul McCartney and Chrissie Hynde amongst its supporters. Recently Hynde was arrested in New York for vandalising a range of leather jackets in the Gap store.

Mills' letter states: "Cows are walked in a death march to slaughterhouses in the stifling heat with no food or water. Chili peppers and tobacco are smeared into their eyes and their tails are broken to make them stand up when they fall down from exhaustion.

"As a Westerner with great respect for Indian culture, it is very upsetting to hear of such acts."

As Mills awaits his reply from the Indian government he's preparing a new musical project for release later this year.

Check out www.kulashaker.com for more details.