The rhinos of Kaziranga are dying fast. And Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar wants to know why.
On September 4, the minister would be visiting the park along with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi for a field inspection. He would also meet senior officials to chalk out an action plan.
Assam's premier national park -- an UNESCO world heritage site and the only home of the Indian one-horned rhino -- has lost 22 rhinos till August this year. Seven poachers have been gunned down and a few have been arrested. But conviction rate being abysmal in poaching cases, the ground reality has not changed.
But Mr Javadekar's visit is not merely in a green cause. There's some saffron in it too.
Assam is heading for by-polls later this year. Though only three seats are involved, it is important for the BJP, which had practically crushed the Congress to win seven of the state's 14 parliamentary seats in May.
The by-polls will prove if the magic holds - and that's what makes the rhino important.
Rhino poaching is an emotive issue for the state and the BJP had made it a key poll plank for the general elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was leading the party's poll campaign, had even triggered a controversy when he accused the state's ruling Congress of being hand-in-glove with poachers and destroying forest cover to provide shelter to Bangladeshi migrants.
The political pot is about to boil again. It remains to be seen whether it actually helps in rhino welfare.
On September 4, the minister would be visiting the park along with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi for a field inspection. He would also meet senior officials to chalk out an action plan.
Assam's premier national park -- an UNESCO world heritage site and the only home of the Indian one-horned rhino -- has lost 22 rhinos till August this year. Seven poachers have been gunned down and a few have been arrested. But conviction rate being abysmal in poaching cases, the ground reality has not changed.
Assam is heading for by-polls later this year. Though only three seats are involved, it is important for the BJP, which had practically crushed the Congress to win seven of the state's 14 parliamentary seats in May.
Advertisement
Rhino poaching is an emotive issue for the state and the BJP had made it a key poll plank for the general elections.
Advertisement
The political pot is about to boil again. It remains to be seen whether it actually helps in rhino welfare.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Aiming To Achieve Net Zero Emission In Railways By 2030: PM Modi In PM Modi's Independence Day Speech, A Call For "24x7 For 2047" PM Modi's Speech At Independence Day 2024 Is Longest Ever By An Indian PM Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool PM Shri Schools Are Inspiring Rural Children: Dharmendra Pradhan Will Messages From Budget Session Of Parliament Find Reflection In Subsequent Sessions? Mpox Outbreak Could Soon Turn Into The Next Global Pandemic. Know More Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.