Union minister's Wayanad visit: BJP trying to take political advantage

Thiruvananthapuram: While the BJP is alleging political favouritism in the decision of Congress government in Karnataka to give Rs 15 lakh compensation to the family of farmer killed in wild elephant attack at Wayanad in Kerala, the BJP also seems to be trying to take political advantage in Wayanad with union minister for forests Bhupendra Yadav himself visiting families of wild animal attack victims at Wayanad.

The issues of Wayanad constituency has been drawing much national attention these days as Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi is representing the constituency in the Lok Sabha.

The two day visit of the union minister to Wayanad from Wednesday is considered as part of BJP's attempts to highlight man-animal conflict, which has been a burning issue of the high-range district, and put Rahul in a bad light. He is meeting families of the victims and also holding discussions with experts to find solutions for man-animal conflict.

Sharing pictures and videos of visiting families of the wild animal attack victims, Yaday said that he had assured the families all support of the Narendra Modi government and also asked the BJP members of Kerala to extend all possible help to the people in the region to ensure a harmonious man-animal coexistence.

Ahead of proceeding to Wayanad, Yadav had accused the Kerala government and local representatives of "ignoring" the escalating man-animal conflict in Wayanad district, and said he himself would review the situation and meet the affected people.

"The state government and MPs should be working on the issue. The central government has been releasing funds, advisories (to address man-animal conflicts). We believe that while we should be sympathetic towards animals, we should be vigilantly using technology (to prevent such incidents). The Centre has repeatedly emphasised this in its advisories to states," he told reporters. 

BJP has been accusing Rahul of not initiating any measures to address the man-animal conflict even as many human lives were lost apart from lives of cattle and destruction to crops.

BJP leadership in Karnataka alleged that Karnataka forest minister Eshwar Khandre's decision to grant Rs. 15 lakh to the family of farmer Ajeesh, who was trampled to death by a radio-collared elephant that crossed over from Bandipur to Wayanad, was to please Rahul Gandhi. 

Over the last few years BJP national leadership has been giving much focus to Wayanad with union ministers and party national leaders frequently visiting the district highlighting the issues and projecting benefits of central government schemes.

Recently the BJP faced embarrassment in Wayanad after party district president K P Madhu made a remark that 'cassock clad people' were also giving call for violent agitations at Wayanad following the recent killing of a person in a wild elephant attack. After the statement triggered criticisms, he retracted the remark.