Eknath Shinde choosing up chits to call tiger cubs
Mumbai:
A seemingly innocuous occasion to call three tiger cubs sparked a political row in Maharashtra on Sunday after a coupon apparently carrying the identify ‘Aditya’ was taken again and changed with one other one.
Opposition leaders linked the identify to Aaditya Thackeray, who was a minister within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities that collapsed final yr after a insurrection by current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde resulted in an acrimonious cut up within the Shiv Sena.
The incident unfolded in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar metropolis when Chief Minister Shinde, his Deputy Ajit Pawar and state forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had been invited to a operate to call two male and one feminine tiger cubs.
After Mr Shinde took out one chit from a glass bowl, visuals of the occasion confirmed, Ajit Pawar was requested to select a coupon from one other container.
With a smile, Mr Pawar confirmed the chit to somebody. A voice within the background may then be heard saying “it is Aditya” and suggesting that Mr Pawar ought to go for one more.
Mr Pawar picked a second chit and the identify on it – Vikram – was learn out. The three cubs had been lastly named Shravani, Vikram and Kanha.
Nevertheless, the chit apparently containing the identify ‘Aditya’ gave a deal with to opposition leaders to slam the Shinde authorities.
Chief of the opposition within the legislative council Ambadas Danve and Shiv Sena (UBT) mentioned, “Whether or not from this world (referring to Aaditya Thackeray) or the sky (Solar can be referred to as Aditya), nobody can cease Aaditya. This authorities is even fearful of his identify,” he mentioned.
Chatting with the media later, Mr Shinde downplayed a query on the naming row. “Two chits had been pulled out concurrently throughout the naming ceremony. Therefore, one chit was saved apart. There may be nothing extra to this,” he mentioned.
Mr Mungantiwar mentioned, “Such petty points shouldn’t be mentioned. A cub born within the wild can’t be named, however the one born right here within the zoo will get a reputation. We’re not fearful of any Aditya.”
Native MP and AIMIM chief Imtiaz Jaleel sarcastically mentioned there was no want to decide on another names for the cubs. “The cubs may have been named Devendra, Ajit and Eknath.” He referred to as the episode “low stage of politics”. “I don’t wish to make any additional touch upon this,” he added.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)