Animals from abroad pampered, humans suffer, says Chhagan Bhujbal

NAGPUR: Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal took a dig at PM Narendra Modi over cheetahs being brought to India, saying that animals are being treated better than humans.
Bhujbal was speaking at the Shetkari-Shet Majoor (farmer/farm labourer) Elgar Parishad at Gondia on Sunday. The Elgar Parishad (no connection to the 2017 Pune event) focused on rising cases of man-animal conflict in Chandrapur district, where tigers have killed a number of humans.
Bhujbal, while addressing the crowd on the issue of access to forest produce for tribals, said, “Guests from inside (tigers from forest) are coming here (villages), but we are not allowed to go inside. They (animals) are brought from abroad, kept in air-conditioned environment and excellent care is taken of them. Sometimes I feel that even we should be taken care of like those animals.”
Human kills by tigers in Chandrapur district is a burning issue with those living in the periphery of forests becoming increasingly vocal. Organizer of the event, Rajendra Mahadole said, “The number of humans killed in and around Chandrapur district has increased in the last few years. People are very angry because of the forest department’s one-sided approach to the issue.”
While enacting what a villager impacted by these issues would say, Bhujbal said, “Don’t treat us like humans. Even PM will come to take our photos.”
“The level of protection given to them (animals) is not even provided to humans. (Government says) Don’t harm them, else you will be put in jail immediately. But if we lose our people then ₹10-15 lakh is given and kin are asked to leave. Now, the government must give ₹1 crore compensation,” said Bhujbal.