In the past 5 months of the BJP-led government, five rhinos have been killed - one every month.
With the recovery of one more male rhino carcass at Kaziranga on Friday morning, the total number of one-horned rhinos killed this year has gone up to 15.
In the past 5 months of the BJP-led government, five rhinos have been killed - one every month.
The latest poaching took place despite increased security arrangements for the Vice President Hamid Ansari's scheduled visit to Kaziranga next Thursday.
Before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Assam Chief Minister Sarbanada Sonowal, then an opposition leader, had made rhino poaching a huge political issue. He even camped inside the world heritage site to highlight the issue of poaching.
The Opposition Congress is now questioning the BJP poll promise of putting an end to poaching.
"They won the election by making it an election issue and their strength lies on only false propaganda. Every issue, be it rhino poaching, price rise or even the illegal migrant issue, they made tall promises," says Babita Sharma, a Congress spokesperson.
The BJP had made rhino poaching a big poll issue and linked it to the issue of illegal migration. The party had alleged that settlers had encroached land around Kaziranga and were giving support to poachers.
Many of the families disputed this charge and claimed that they were living next to the park for many years now.
Last month, based on a court order, the Assam government evicted three villages bordering Kaziranga.
The Assam government, in its defense said, the number of rhinos poached in their regime is much lower. "Congress doesn't have any right to say anything. During their tenure there was three to four rhino poaching every month," says Pramila Rani Bramha, Assam's Forest Minister and added, "During my time it is only five."
With increasing pressure, sources said, the BJP-led Assam government may act tough on Kaziranga park officials for failing to stop poaching.