November 05, 2018:

On Monday, Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar took strong objection to Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's criticism of the State Government over the killing of a tigress called Avni.

He said that Maneka Gandhi "lacks information" on the issue & can order a high-level probe if she wants to.

Mungantiwar's statement comes a day after the Union Women & Child Development Minister lashed out at the Maharashtra government over the "ghastly murder" of the tigress, T1.

She officially called it a "straight case of crime."

The tigress, survived by her two 10 months old cubs, was believed to be responsible for the deaths of 13 people in the past 2 years. She was shot dead by sharp-shooter Asgar Ali in the Borati forest in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district Friday as part of an operation.

Gandhi had stated in a series of tweets, "It is nothing but a straight case of crime. Despite several requests from many stakeholders, (Sudhir) Mungantiwar, Minister for Forests, Maharashtra, gave orders for the killing."

Union Minister had said she is going to take up the matter "very strongly" with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Mungantiwar said Gandhi's criticism "stems from her lack of information" on the issue & asserted neither he, as a minister, nor any of the secretaries in his department have the right to order such killings.

He said such decisions are taken as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Mungantiwar said,"She (Gandhi) loves animals. She is, however, Minister for Women and Child Development. I have to consider the women who have been killed by the tigress."

If she deems fit, she can suggest changes in the NTCA guidelines, the senior state minister said.

Both Mungantiwar & Gandhi are members of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Maharashtra Minister said orders to capture the tigress were given when she killed 5 people.

However, he said animal activists approached the Bombay High Court & obtained a stay, which resulted in the "man-eating" big cat killing more people.

Mungantiwar said,"The Forest Department is not an enemy of the tigress. She was killed only after she attacked those trying to tranquilise her."

He said if sharp-shooter Asgar Ali has Criminal Cases registered against him, then Gandhi, being a Union Minister, can order his arrest.

Mungantiwar said that Maharashtra Forest Department has nothing to do with the cases, if any, against him.

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