Monday, April 29, 2013

Madhya Pradesh government scrambles to assuage Modi after Gujarat's loss of 'pride

24-04-2013
Madhya Pradesh government scrambles to assuage Modi after Gujarat's loss of 'pride
Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-24/india/38789955_1_kuno-palpur-asiatic-lions-gir

(Government circles in Madhya Pradesh have suggested that the tag of 'Gir' or 'Gujarat' be retained to identify the relocated lions at their new home in the wilderness of Kuno-Palpur sanctuary in northern Madhya Pradesh.)

Given the Gujarat chief minister NarendraModi'sspiralling graph in the BJP and his virtual anointment as the party's prime ministerial candidate, the Shivraj Singh Chauhan government has hastened to assuage the loss Gujarat might feel after the recent Supreme Court order for the relocation of Gir's lions to a sancutary in Madhya Pradesh.

Government circles in Madhya Pradesh have suggested that the tag of 'Gir' or 'Gujarat' be retained to identify the relocated lions at their new home in the wilderness of Kuno-Palpur sanctuary in northern Madhya Pradesh.

The move for relocation, first mooted back in 2000, had been hanging fire ever since because Gujarat had steadfastly refused to part with the majestic big cats since that state held the unique distinction of being home to the natural habitat of the only surviving Asiatic lions.

While conservationists insisted that diversifying the lions' habitat would ward off any natural, medical or man-made calamity that could wipe out the entire population of Gir's lions, Gujarat treated the issue as a matter of pride and wanted to retain its unique status to continue to attract the substantial tourist inflow to Gir.

After the Supreme Court finally resolved the issue in favour of relocation, Gujarat is left with little choice but to comply. ""We are mulling upon to propose the retention of the 'Gir' or 'Gujarat' tag with the lions that will arrive at Kuno-Palpur. It would then be up to the Gujarat Government whether it would like us to do so,"" Government sources told ToI.

""It's too early to comment it. However, we would consider it if it paves the way for early relocation of the lions to Madhya Pradesh,"" say Sartaj Singh, Minister for Forests, Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Such proposal, it seems, will hardly change an opinion of the Gujarat towards sharing of the lions.

What's in a name? asks Nitin Patel, spokesperson of the Gujarat government. "It's not a war between two chief ministers of two states or a matter of name. My question is, when why to disturb them when they are happily breeding here" said Patel adding that people in Gujarat are emotionally attached with the lions. He maintained that state government has taken a decision to file review petition in Supreme Court to challenge the verdict directing translocation of lions to Madhya Pradesh.

No comments:

Previous Posts