Himachal BJP Calls for FIR Against Jungle Fowl Killing at CM Sukhu's Dinner
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Dharamsala, Dec 19 (NationPress) The principal Opposition party, the BJP, in Himachal Pradesh, has urged the authorities to file a first information report (FIR) against those involved in the unlawful killing of a wildlife-protected bird species, which was allegedly served during a dinner in honor of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
Leading the charge, Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur organized a protest alongside party lawmakers regarding the death of the red jungle fowl, also known as jungli murga, in the wild, just before the commencement of the Assembly session in Dharamsala, the winter capital of the state.
This bird is classified as a protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, and is critically endangered, facing replacement by genetically altered jungle fowl.
Holding placards featuring images of the bird, the legislators voiced their dissent against the government and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the bird's death, which was served to the Chief Minister, his colleague Dhani Ram Shandil, various officials, and party members.
Thakur remarked, "Instead of pursuing a case against those responsible for the bird's death in the wild, the government opted to file a complaint against the media for reporting on the issue. It's quite the paradox," he stated to reporters.
The FIR was filed based on a complaint by village head Suman Chauhan, whose residence hosted the dinner for the visiting Chief Minister, and it also implicated Congress defector and BJP legislator Sudhir Sharma.
Former Chief Minister Thakur indicated to IANS that they would also address the matter of the illegal killing of the red jungle fowl in the Assembly.
He further questioned, "If the Chief Minister claims he did not enjoy the red jungle fowl since he is a vegetarian, then how did a wildlife-protected species end up on the official menu for his dinner?"
He added, "This clearly suggests that the Chief Minister was aware that the jungle fowl was officially included in his dinner menu."
This incident marks yet another culinary controversy for the Chief Minister, following the 'disappearance' of samosas.
A circulated video from the dinner reportedly shows the Chief Minister suggesting that others, including ministers and officials, should sample the jungli murga dish if they consume non-vegetarian food.
However, the Chief Minister asserted that he did not partake in the red jungle fowl. "I didn't eat it, even though it was offered to me," he clarified.
The dinner took place in Tikkar, a remote village in Chopal within the Shimla district, where he stayed after attending a public grievance redressal event on December 13.
In the video, the Chief Minister is heard mentioning that "he does not eat it" while asking the villagers to serve it to his ministerial colleague Shandil, who was seated beside him, along with others, as they shared a meal on the floor.
