Congress MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, on Friday, moved a Zero Hour notice in Lok Sabha, and appealed that the transportation of four elephants from Assam to the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad should be stopped.
Assam forest department had granted permission for transportation of four juvenile elephants, including two females, from Tinsukia in Upper Assam to the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad.
Gogoi said taking into account the ongoing heat wave in North India, the Ministry of environment and forest, should intervene and immediately stop the process of transportation of the elephants.
The Congress MP said the animals are going to suffer a lot if they are transported to Ahmedabad by train from Tinsukia. “We all should ensure that the animals should not suffer,” he said.
On Thursday, Gogoi had written a letter to Union environment and forest minister Prakash Javedekar, requesting him to convince the Assam government to stop the transportation of the elephants.
Quoting media reports, the Congress MP also said it was unfortunate the elephants were being taken to the Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad to take part in the Ratha Yatra procession.
The Congress MP said, animals, and especially elephants should not be forced to parade in religious programmes.