Asiatic Lion Poaching case: Vaghela slams Modi Govt, Modhwadia seeks CBI probe

11-04-2007

Ahmedabad Newsline-Express News Service/Press Trust Of India

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=231188

 

Rajkot,/ Junagadh, April 10: Union Textiles Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela on Tuesday criticised the Narendra Modi Government for its alleged failure to check the poaching of lions in Gir sanctuary.

 

“The Modi government failed to take timely measures to prevent killing of seven lions over the past few weeks in Gir, he only abode of Asiatic lions,” he said.

Poachings of the protected animal could been averted by strengthening security, Vaghela said. “It is now useless to announce ‘project lion’ to protect them from poachers.”

 

He also accused the BJP government of killing innocent people in “fake encounters” and said the shootout rate in Gujarat was higher than terror-hit Jammu and Kashmir. Vaghela, a former Chief Minister, was here to join Congress-organised ‘cycle yatra’ which will conclude on April 13 at Porbandar.

 

The yatra has been organised by the Opposition Congress party to propogate Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence in the State, where elections are due in December.

 

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Gujarat assembly, Arjun Modhwadia has demanded CBI inquiry into the poaching incidents and alleged that there is no integration between CID-crime and forest department in the ongoing probe. Modhwadia also alleged that even a month after the probe by CID crime, there was no progress or breakthrough.

 

Lashing out at the Government, Modhwadia alleged that it has been hiding the truth. Probe agency and state government keeping silence over this most serious incidents is suspicious thing itself. In Spite of hiding the facts, government either hand over probe to the individual agency.

 

Stressing the need of CBI inquiry, Modhwadia said union government has taken serious note of Gir lions poaching incidents and possibly union minister, Department of forest and environment Namo Narayanan is schedule to visit Porbander and visit Sasan Gir forest head quarter and take stock of the situation and get information about the issue.