MANDI, December 14 (Munish Sood)
The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government in Himachal Pradesh is at the centre of a controversy again as the opposition BJP has alleged that a ‘jungli murga’ (grey junglefowl), a protected species under the wildlife Act, was served at the Chief Minister’s newly started ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ programme at Tikkar village under Kupvi area of Chopal in Shimla district.
Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was among those to rake up the controversy by putting up videos on their social media handles.
In a post on Facebook, BJP leader Jai Ram wrote: “जनता के घर द्वार जाकर लोगों की समस्याओं के निस्तारण करने की योजना ‘जनमंच’ के फुलके जिन्हे खल रहे थे वह आज पिकनिक मना रहे हैं (those ridiculing BJP’s ‘Jan Manch’ programme, which “addressed grievances of people at their doorsteps in true sense”, are out picnicking in their own version of a similar event).
संरक्षित प्रजाति के जंगली मुर्गा को खाने वालों को जेल होती है, जुर्माना होता है लेकिन मुख्यमंत्री महोदय मुर्गा खिलाने का पहले मेन्यू छपवाते हैं और अपने मंत्रियों को चटखारे ले लेकर खिलाते हैं (commoners are fined and jailed for eating ‘junglee murga’, but the Himachal CM first gets menu containing ‘junglee murga’ as one of the 14 items on it published and then takes pleasure in allegedly feeding it to his ministers and colleagues).
Jai Ram also wrote that it though the Sukhu government was celebrating its two years in power, it indeed was a “downfall in governance”.
The former Chief Minister also attached a purported video of the dinner hosted by a villager at Tikkar in which CM Sukhu is heard asking those serving whether they have ‘junglee murga’. “Junglee murga hai? Inko do na junglee murga (serve them wild chicken),” the CM is seen pointing towards someone sitting on his right side. Then he points to Health Minister Colonel (retired) Dhani Ram Shandil sitting on his left: “Colonel saab khate hain?”
In the same breath, CM also asks whether all sitting with him for dinner were vegetarian. As a man (not seen in video) replies all are vegetarian, CM Sukhu jokingly asks “Kimtaji must be non-vegetarian.” The man replies he (Kimtaji) too is a vegetarian.
Of 14 items on menu, listed at number 12
The dinner included 14 items, including local delicacies ‘siddu’, ‘bichhu booti’ (a dish made from stinging nettle) and rotis of maize and wheat. However, it was the mention of wild fowl — listed as item number 12 — that triggered the controversy.
Though the Chief Minister purportedly did not consume the junglefowl, the viral video allegedly showed him asking the Health Minister and others accompanying him to have it.
Hunting prohibited under Wildlife Act, 1972
The uproar stems from the fact that hunting junglefowl is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This bird, commonly found in high-altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh, is a protected species and its hunting is a punishable offence under the law.
The opposition and the public are now questioning how a prohibited bird could make its way to the Chief Minister’s dinner table, or at least to the menu, a picture of which was uploaded on social media handles by opposition leaders and media houses, including ‘Punjab Kesri’.
Critics and wildlife activists have taken to social media to express their anger even as no official statement has been issued by the government or the administration so far.
