Rajasthan minister caught in tricky 'serpentine' knot

JAIPUR: When senior

cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Rathore

was recently garlanded with a python at the

Gogamedi Fair in Churu

, he may not have realized that the seemingly innocent gesture, caught on camera, had the potential to get blown into a

full-fledged controversy

.

Unfortunately , that's the price you pay for holding a responsible position in the government and for lacking awareness of activist groups such as People for Animals, Rajasthan, committed to protecting nature and wildlife of the state. In the event, the above said group has shot off a letter to the chief wildlife warden (CWLW), Rajasthan, and deputy conservator (forests), Churu, to initiate action against Rathore.

Acopy of the letter has also been forwarded to PM Narendra Modi, who is also the chairman of the National Wildlife Board; Union minister and wildlife activist Maneka Gandhi; CM Vasundhra Raje; and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. The annual Gogamedi Fair is held in the honour of Gogaji (a local snake deity).Python is a Schedule I animal and the minster's act is seen as a violation of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

“I have sent the picture for verification and identifying the species. We will take strong steps if it turns out to be true,“ said Gauri Maulekhi, who assists Maneka Gandhi, cabinet minister for women & child development, and national president, People for Animals.

This year, the fair, dedicated to the snake deity , was organized from August 16 to 18. The festival, which had lost its sheen in the recent past, saw an uptick this year and the Gogamedi committee had managed to attract a large crowd. About 20 lakh people had gathered for the fair. Both political parties, the BJP and the Congress, had put up their banners at the fair and were seen giving mementoes to participants.

“It is not expected of a responsible, law-abiding minister, educated citizen and public representative to make himself an exhibit by being garlanded with pythons that are Schedule I animals. This is aclear violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Strict action should be taken against Rajendra Rathore. Otherwise, we will be forced to knock on the doors of the court and register a complaint,“ said Babu Lal Jajoo, state co-ordinator, People for Animals.

When queried, Rathore said he was not aware of any such complaint. “It's a traditional fair where snakes are worshipped and there is a public sentiment attached to the fair. They put only normal snakes and not a python around my neck,“ Rathore said. But other than exhibiting wild animals, the hapless animal are also tortured, alleged an activist. “People at the fair make these snakes & monitor lizards perform all kinds of stunts, eventually damaging their vertebra & brutally breaking their teeth and fangs,“ said the activist.


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