Row over tigress killing escalates; Maharashtra CM Fadnavis says forest staff shot her in self-defence
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: As the arguable killing of tigress Avni in Maharashtra kicked up a row, leader minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday initial studies showed that the woodland division group shot her in "self-defence" after it was once attacked whilst looking to tranquilise the animal.
Fadnavis also said any procedural lapse in the incident will likely be probed at the same time as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union surroundings minister Harsh Vardhan were locked in a spat + over the killing of the Five-year-old tigress.
The tigress, formally known as T1 and believed to be accountable for the deaths of 13 other people up to now two years, was once shot useless by sharp-shooter Asgar Ali in the Borati woodland in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district on Friday as part of an operation.
Fadnavis said initial studies made available to him mentioned that the tigress was once shot after she attacked the woodland body of workers which was once looking to tranquilise her.
"There is no happiness over the killing. The forest department took the decision since she had killed 13 to 14 people. There are some doubts regarding whether the tigress was first shot and then the dart inserted, this aspect will be probed," he instructed journalists in Mumbai.
"We speak of increasing tiger population and conserving wildlife, and then unfortunately such a decision had to be taken. The tiger is a gentleman. He attacks only if his habitat is violated. Preliminary reports with me say the tigress attacked the forest department team and she was shot in self defence," the executive minister said.
"Hunter Asghar Ali was hired by the forest department. The doubts raised regarding the killing will be verified."
Asked to touch upon Union minister Maneka Gandhi's statements on the killing, Fadnavis said she had used "harsh words".
In a series of tweets on Sunday, Gandhi said, "It is nothing but a straight case of crime. Despite several requests from many stakeholders, (Sudhir) Mungantiwar, minister for forests, Maharashtra, gave orders for the killing."
"She (Maneka) has used harsh words. But her sentiments should be understood. All animal lovers' sentiments are harsh regarding this incident. It was a difficult decision. Whether the procedure was correct or not will be checked," Fadnavis added.
Earlier in the day, woodland minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also crossed swords with Maneka Gandhi and claimed that the latter "lacked information" on the issue.
"Instead of lodging a complaint with the chief minister, the Union minister (Maneka Gandhi), if she wants, can order a high-level inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge or a committee of sitting Supreme Court judges," said Mungantiwar.
Vardhan said no previous Union govt has labored with the kind of "depth and seriousness" the current dispensation has, as he hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his barb on the Centre on the killing of the tigress.
The govt does no longer want a certificates from Rahul Gandhi, Vardhan said.
He said a record has been sought by his ministry from the Maharashtra govt.
Earlier on Monday, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi #Avni."
"The central government does not need a certificate from Rahul Gandhi. The kind of seriousness, depth and honesty that the central government works with, I think no other prior government has done it like this," Vardhan said on the sidelines of an tournament in Delhi.
Asked if his ministry has sought a record, the environment minister said, "This is a natural process. Whenever there is any incident, a report comes to the department."
The killing of Avni, who is survived by her two cubs who're 10 months previous, has also been criticised by animal and natural world bodies.
Animal rights body PETA India said the killing must be investigated and handled as a natural world crime, and termed it a "dark day" for the country.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said Avni was once killed "illegally to satisfy a hunter's lust for blood", in contempt of court docket and in apparent violation of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Fadnavis also said any procedural lapse in the incident will likely be probed at the same time as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union surroundings minister Harsh Vardhan were locked in a spat + over the killing of the Five-year-old tigress.
The tigress, formally known as T1 and believed to be accountable for the deaths of 13 other people up to now two years, was once shot useless by sharp-shooter Asgar Ali in the Borati woodland in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district on Friday as part of an operation.
Fadnavis said initial studies made available to him mentioned that the tigress was once shot after she attacked the woodland body of workers which was once looking to tranquilise her.
"There is no happiness over the killing. The forest department took the decision since she had killed 13 to 14 people. There are some doubts regarding whether the tigress was first shot and then the dart inserted, this aspect will be probed," he instructed journalists in Mumbai.
"We speak of increasing tiger population and conserving wildlife, and then unfortunately such a decision had to be taken. The tiger is a gentleman. He attacks only if his habitat is violated. Preliminary reports with me say the tigress attacked the forest department team and she was shot in self defence," the executive minister said.
"Hunter Asghar Ali was hired by the forest department. The doubts raised regarding the killing will be verified."
Asked to touch upon Union minister Maneka Gandhi's statements on the killing, Fadnavis said she had used "harsh words".
In a series of tweets on Sunday, Gandhi said, "It is nothing but a straight case of crime. Despite several requests from many stakeholders, (Sudhir) Mungantiwar, minister for forests, Maharashtra, gave orders for the killing."
"She (Maneka) has used harsh words. But her sentiments should be understood. All animal lovers' sentiments are harsh regarding this incident. It was a difficult decision. Whether the procedure was correct or not will be checked," Fadnavis added.
Earlier in the day, woodland minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also crossed swords with Maneka Gandhi and claimed that the latter "lacked information" on the issue.
"Instead of lodging a complaint with the chief minister, the Union minister (Maneka Gandhi), if she wants, can order a high-level inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge or a committee of sitting Supreme Court judges," said Mungantiwar.
Vardhan said no previous Union govt has labored with the kind of "depth and seriousness" the current dispensation has, as he hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his barb on the Centre on the killing of the tigress.
The govt does no longer want a certificates from Rahul Gandhi, Vardhan said.
He said a record has been sought by his ministry from the Maharashtra govt.
Earlier on Monday, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi #Avni."
The greatness of a country can be judged by the way in which its animals are handled. Mahatma Gandhi #Avni
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 1541394584000"The central government does not need a certificate from Rahul Gandhi. The kind of seriousness, depth and honesty that the central government works with, I think no other prior government has done it like this," Vardhan said on the sidelines of an tournament in Delhi.
Asked if his ministry has sought a record, the environment minister said, "This is a natural process. Whenever there is any incident, a report comes to the department."
The killing of Avni, who is survived by her two cubs who're 10 months previous, has also been criticised by animal and natural world bodies.
Animal rights body PETA India said the killing must be investigated and handled as a natural world crime, and termed it a "dark day" for the country.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said Avni was once killed "illegally to satisfy a hunter's lust for blood", in contempt of court docket and in apparent violation of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Row over tigress killing escalates; Maharashtra CM Fadnavis says forest staff shot her in self-defence
![Row over tigress killing escalates; Maharashtra CM Fadnavis says forest staff shot her in self-defence]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
November 05, 2018
Rating:
