Badruddin Ajmal was perhaps speaking for all of his ilk when he said that it does not matter to him whether an elephant dies or a rhinoceros. The All India United Democratic Front parliamentarian from Assam was unabashed about his feelings when asked his opinion on the rhino poaching incidents that have created global outrage. And this, when the entire country is in the throes of the general elections and political leaders are careful not to antagonize anyone. But then, rhinos or elephants can't vote.
The AIUDF leader is not alone in making insensitive comments on the matter of rhino killings in Assam. Gaurav Gogoi, the son of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, also created a stir among wildlife lovers and conservationists when he recently said that the number of rhinos killed in Assam is far less than in Africa. He failed to understand that the number of rhinos being killed each year are significantly contributing to the long term survival of the species in Assam, even if annual surveys have shown a growth in total population. The Great One-horned Rhino is the pride of Assam and the Assamese people can not remain insensitive to its killings, even if a thousand more have been poached in Africa. Moreover, the failure to protect such a small population of the Great One-horned Rhino represents an abject surrender of the government before the poaching syndicate. It is a big failure and a blot on the Congress Government, which has managed to overcome several insurgent movements in the state during its tenure.
While the Congress candidate for the Koliabor Parliamentary seat may have been misled by those he is dependent on for his first attempt at electoral politics, the AIUDF leader represents that breed of politicians for whom the only thing that matters is votes. Gaurav must have known that the population of the White rhino far exceeds that of the Indian rhino and made just an off-hand remark to thwart criticism of the Forest Department. But Ajmal's blatant admission is an indirect endorsement of poaching and detrimental to the efforts of the Forest department and several NGOs to raise awareness about the vast wildlife heritage of Assam. It is unlikely that there will be any action against Ajmal for his nonsensical speech about two species that have been traditionally connected to the Assamese sensibilities. But there will come a time when politicians will not get away with such statements about species protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
The AIUDF leader is not alone in making insensitive comments on the matter of rhino killings in Assam. Gaurav Gogoi, the son of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, also created a stir among wildlife lovers and conservationists when he recently said that the number of rhinos killed in Assam is far less than in Africa. He failed to understand that the number of rhinos being killed each year are significantly contributing to the long term survival of the species in Assam, even if annual surveys have shown a growth in total population. The Great One-horned Rhino is the pride of Assam and the Assamese people can not remain insensitive to its killings, even if a thousand more have been poached in Africa. Moreover, the failure to protect such a small population of the Great One-horned Rhino represents an abject surrender of the government before the poaching syndicate. It is a big failure and a blot on the Congress Government, which has managed to overcome several insurgent movements in the state during its tenure.
While the Congress candidate for the Koliabor Parliamentary seat may have been misled by those he is dependent on for his first attempt at electoral politics, the AIUDF leader represents that breed of politicians for whom the only thing that matters is votes. Gaurav must have known that the population of the White rhino far exceeds that of the Indian rhino and made just an off-hand remark to thwart criticism of the Forest Department. But Ajmal's blatant admission is an indirect endorsement of poaching and detrimental to the efforts of the Forest department and several NGOs to raise awareness about the vast wildlife heritage of Assam. It is unlikely that there will be any action against Ajmal for his nonsensical speech about two species that have been traditionally connected to the Assamese sensibilities. But there will come a time when politicians will not get away with such statements about species protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
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