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Rajasthan tiger crisis update: Vasundhara ''shocked'' by PM's concern! |
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia shows remarkably narrow vision when she chooses to be sarcastic about the Prime Minister's concern over tigers (see report below). She says the Prime Minister should be more concerned about ''people dying of thirst.'' Maybe she should fast forward to a Ranthambhore or a Sariska without tigers, dropped from Project Tiger's list as unviable habitat. Then perhaps, if she is still around and willing to account for her words, she would be able to explain how whatever little water there is in those areas has vanished because the forest that attracted the rain and stored the ground water has gone. This is something even middle school students learn; it seems to have escaped the Chief Minister. As for the Ghana at Bharatpur, she says nobody can guarantee regular water supply to the villagers whom she appeases by not letting water into the bird sanctuary from Ajan Bund. It sounds like the Chief Minister only represents farmers and does not give a damn for thousands of equally hard working people in and around the town of Bharatpur, who depend on the Dollars earned from tourism at the Ghana. One wonders what the political repercussions will be when those thousands are out of work because the Ghana is no longer a viable bird sanctuary. The Chief Minister also forgets that it is the Indian public that pays with their taxes, for conservation of our natural heritage and ecosystems that sustain us. Taxpayers have the right to demand accountability from the people entrusted to use their money for the purpose for which it is intended. - Nirmal Ghosh And now politics over tigers, Vasundhara bytes Jaipur, March 6, 2005: The mystery of the missing Sariska tigers - probably the worst wildlife tragedy in post-independent India - may just get buried in political rhetoric. Reacting to a letter by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking her to take immediate action to protect the tiger and its habitat, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje told HT that she was "shocked." Shocked not because it's been several months since the last tiger was spotted in Sariska, but because the PM didn't show similar concern for "people dying of thirst." "It's good that the PM is concerned about tigers but I would have been happier had he showed this concern for people here dying of thirst. Punjab was releasing less water and I met the PM regarding that but I never got a letter on that issue," she said. Asked whether the PM's suggestions - disallowing diesel vehicles in parks and banning cattle grazing - would be implemented, Raje said a committee of experts had been set up and its recommendations were expected in three months. "Realistic steps would be taken," she said. The experts will also look at Ranthambore and the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. "The locals say that water for the sanctuary can be released over their dead bodies unless they are assured of a steady water supply. No one can give that assurance. If I have to make a choice between people and the wildlife, I frankly don't have a choice, unlike the PM," says Raje. After all, tigers don't vote.
The Sunday Express
Q - Ajay Kumar:
A - Ms Vasundhara Raje, Rajasthan Chief Minister: |
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