Nirupam accuses Mungantiwar of nexus with poaching mafia, faces defamation

From 2015 to 2017, total 51 tigers died. It is highly possible that Mungantiwar is in nexus with the poaching mafia. It is clear that our national animal isn’t safe with Mungantiwar as the forest minister. —Sanjay Nirupam, Mumbai Cong chief The allegations are baseless. He has no proof to support his claim. I am filing a defamation case against him. —Sudhir Mungantiwar, forest min

Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam accused the minister for forest Sudhir Mungantiwar of having a nexus with poachers and said most deaths have occurred during the tenure of Mungantiwar as the forest minister.

“From 2015 to 2017, 14, 16 and 21 (total 51) tigers died. It is highly possible that Mungantiwar is in nexus with the poaching mafia. It is clear that our national animal isn’t safe with Mungantiwar as the forest minister,” alleged Nirupam.

Nirupam said there is a National Tiger Conservative Authority in place, which has installed surveillance system in every tiger reserve across the country, however, this system has not been installed in the forests in Maharashtra, despite repeated requests.

Maharashtra government first floated a tender in August 2016 urging the bidders to submit their respective tenders before September 2016. However, this tender was scrapped. A year later, the government floated another tender in March 2017, with May 2017 deadline. However, this tender was scrapped too.

The Congress president though admitted, finally a surveillance system was installed as a small model in Chandrapur’s Chanda.

“Mungantiwar admitted this helped in tracking the location of the tigers and the activities of the poachers. May be that is why he is not wanting the poachers to be caught,” alleged Nirupam.

Now Nirupam faces a defamation suit as Mungantiwar said, “The allegations are baseless. He has no proof to support his claim. I am filing a defamation case against him.”

Actress and Animal lover Rupali Ganguly, who was also present, said, “The panel formed by the Centre, too, comprises people from the government who will be biased towards in the entire issue. We want cyber experts, forensic experts, forest experts, veterinarian and shooting experts to be a part of this committee to ensure fair inquiry and action.”

Animal lovers Priyanka Timmins, Anupama Mukherjee and Bharat Sharma too questioned why the government ordering killing.

A Global March will be organised from Worli Seaface to Dadar Shivaji Park at 4pm on Sunday.