“Dark day for the nation” PETA terms regarding the killing of tigress Avni

NEW DELHI: On Monday Harsh Vardhan the union environment minister, took a hit at the Congress president's barb at the centre regarding the killing of the tigress Avni. By saying that, no government has worked with the kind of "depth and seriousness" this dispensation has.

He said that, the government does not require a certificate from Rahul Gandhi. The union minister said a report has been sought by his ministry over the killing of Avni, who is believed to be responsible for the deaths of 13 people in the past two years, as the part of an operation which is being held in Maharashtra Yavatmal district.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted,"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi #Avni." Earlier on Monday. 

"The central government does not need a certificate from Rahul Gandhi. The kind of seriousness, depth and honesty that the central government works with, I think no other prior government has done it like this," Vardhan said on the sidelines of an event.

When questioned if the union minister had sought a report, he said,"This is a natural process. Whenever there is any incident, report comes to the department."

On Sunday, Maneka Gandhi the Women and child development minister whipped at the BJP-led Maharashtra government over the "ghastly murder" of the man-eating tigress, by calling it a "straight case of crime". Maneka Gandhi said that she was deeply saddened by the way the tigress was brutally killed. "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," she said in a series of tweets.

The killing of Avni, who is survived by her two 10 months old cubs, have also been criticised by the animal and 
wildlife bodies. 

On Saturday the Animal rights body PETA India said that the killing of a tiger as part of an operation in Maharashtra should be investigated and treated as it is a wildlife crime, and termed it a "dark day" for the nation.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said that Avni was killed "illegally to satisfy a hunter's lust for blood", in contempt of court and in apparent violation of the Wildlife Protection Act.