The Asian Age

Maneka raps Maha mantri over tiger killing ‘ crime’

‘ Tigress killing, a straight case of crime’

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

Women and child developmen­t minister Maneka Gandhi, known for her keen interest in animal welfare, lashed out at a Maharashtr­a minister on Sunday over the killing of a man- eating tigress Avni, and described it as a “straight case of crime”.

She tweeted: “I am deeply saddened by the way tigress Avni ( was) brutally murdered in Yavatmal. It is nothing but a straight case of crime. Despite several requests from stakeholde­rs, ( Sudhir) Mungantiwa­r, minister for forests, Maharashtr­a, gave orders for the killing.” Ms Gandhi said she would raise the issue strongly with Maharashtr­a CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Union minister of women and child developmen­t Maneka Gandhi, who is also known for her keen interest in issues related to animal welfare, criticised the Maharashtr­a government on Sunday over the killing of a man- eating tigress Avni.

While describing the incidents as a ghastly murder, the minister said on Twitter, “I am deeply saddened by the way tigress Avni has been brutally murdered in Yavatmal,” she said in a tweet.

“It is nothing but a sraight case of crime. Despite several requests from many stakeholde­rs, ( Sudhir) Mungantiwa­r, the minister of forests, Maharashtr­a, gave orders for the killing.’’

While describing the incident as a straight case of crime, Ms Gandhi said she will raise the issue with Maharashtr­a chief minister Dev end ra Fadnavis. The tigress was apparently responsibl­e for killing of 13 people in the last two years. She was finally killed in the Yavatmal region of Maharashtr­a on Friday as part of an operation.

Avni was shot dead by a sharpshoot­er Asgar Ali, who happens to be the son of a famous hunter Nawab Shafat Ali. In a series of Tweets, Ms Gandhi added, “I am definitely going to take up this case of utter lack of empathy for animals as a test case. Legally, criminally as well as politicall­y.’’

While crticising both Mr Mungantiwa­r and Asgar Ali, the minster stated, “Every time he has used Hyderabadb­ased shooter Shafat Ali Khan, and this time his son has also appeared on the scene illegally to murder the tigress.

“His son was not authorised to kill. This is illegal. The trigger- happy shooter has killed her on his own under orders of Mungantiwa­r,” she further tweeted.

Despite several requests, Mungantiwa­r, the minister of forests, Maharashtr­a, gave orders for the killing

Maneka Gandhi,

Union minister

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