BJP govt responsible for lion deaths: Meena

Junagadh, Apr 12 (UNI) Union Minister of state for forests Namo Narayan Meena today squarely blamed the state BJP government and the Chief Minister for the killings of six lions recently in the Gir forest.

Addressing reporters in Porbandar, Mr Meena said when Mr L K Advani calls Chief Minister Narendra Modi a ''lion'' it is surprising that one lion, inspite of having the wherewithal, has failed to save other lions. He described the incidents of lion killing as 'unfortunate'.

Flaying the BJP government and Mr Modi for their failure to save the lions, he said the lions now need urgent protection from poachers or else a day will come when this magnificient species would become extinct.

Mr Meena also informed that a central fact-finding team comprising a woman and two men will come to Junagadh on its way to Gir forest on April 14. The team will stay for four days until April 17 and will go to the forest area and meet officials of forest department, locals and mediapersons. The team will then submit its report to the Centre.

Mr Meena said since the lion population had gone up considerably this century, it needs more area to move around. The forest comprising 1412 sq km is not enough for the animals. He suggested that some lions be moved to Porbandar's Barda hill so as to save the species from being wiped out.

UNI