Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday slammed the state government for allegedly transferring a five-year-old elephant from Manas National Park to the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu
GUWAHATI — Assam Congress chief Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday slammed the state government for allegedly transferring a five-year-old elephant from Manas National Park to the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu, and demanded her immediate return.
He claimed the elephant, named 'Durga', was sent out of the state secretly at night without informing the people.
"On 7 Sept, 5‑year‑old 'Durga' was quietly taken from Manas National Park, Assam, to Tamil Nadu -- in the dead of night, without telling the people of Assam," Gogoi said in a social media post.
He said media reports that the elephant is being kept tied on the temple premises have angered the people of the state, and alleged that Durga was "sold to the temple for monetary considerations".
"People of Assam deserve to know if the rules were strictly followed and if there was any commercial interest involved," he added.
The Congress leader termed the alleged decision to shift the elephant under the cover of darkness without making any information public as "highly condemnable".
He also claimed that this was not an isolated case and that nearly 1,200 elephants from Assam have been sent outside the state in a similar manner, with people remaining unaware of the circumstances.
"We are kept in the dark while our elephants are sent away, one by one," he added.
Expressing deep concern over the episode, Gogoi demanded that the authorities of Manas National Park and the Assam government make all relevant information regarding the transfer public.
"The Assam govt & Manas administration must be accountable. These are our forests, our elephants, and we have the right to know. This silent exodus of Assam's elephants should stop," he added.
The Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha demanded that 'Durga' be brought back safely from Tamil Nadu to Assam at the earliest.
Gogoi also demanded that the government disclose details concerning the elephant, including her actual age, ownership and place of residence, so that people are fully informed about her identity and circumstances.
"For many in Assam, our forests and wildlife are as much a part of our culture as our dance and music. It is as much a part of our heritage as our historical battles. It is as much part of our religion as our 'naamghars'," he added.