<p>Mumbai: In a shocking revelation which snowballed into a political issue in Maharashtra, an MLA of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena claimed that he had hunted a tiger 37 years ago and wears its tooth around his neck. </p><p>The MLA, Sanjay Gaikwad, represents Buldhana constituency in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. </p><p>The claim seems to have been made during the celebrations of Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary Maratha warrior.</p>.Don’t eat if your parents don’t vote for me: Shiv Sena MLA’s bizarre diktat to kids.<p>Incidentally, the tiger is the symbol of Shiv Sena - conceived by its founder Balasaheb Thackeray.</p><p>Saamana Online, an internet-media platform of Shiv Sena (UBT), posted the video, which has gone viral on social media platforms. </p>.<p>“This is a tiger tooth. In 1987, I had hunted it and removed it (the tooth),” said a smiling Gaikwad, who often lands in controversies for his statements.</p><p>Asked whether the tooth is of a tiger, he asserted: “…it's a tiger…”.</p><p>Gaikwad could not be contacted. </p><p>The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has not spoken on the issue. </p><p>Tiger is the national animal of India and is a critically endangered species under Wildlife (Protection) Act. </p>
<p>Mumbai: In a shocking revelation which snowballed into a political issue in Maharashtra, an MLA of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena claimed that he had hunted a tiger 37 years ago and wears its tooth around his neck. </p><p>The MLA, Sanjay Gaikwad, represents Buldhana constituency in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. </p><p>The claim seems to have been made during the celebrations of Shiv Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary Maratha warrior.</p>.Don’t eat if your parents don’t vote for me: Shiv Sena MLA’s bizarre diktat to kids.<p>Incidentally, the tiger is the symbol of Shiv Sena - conceived by its founder Balasaheb Thackeray.</p><p>Saamana Online, an internet-media platform of Shiv Sena (UBT), posted the video, which has gone viral on social media platforms. </p>.<p>“This is a tiger tooth. In 1987, I had hunted it and removed it (the tooth),” said a smiling Gaikwad, who often lands in controversies for his statements.</p><p>Asked whether the tooth is of a tiger, he asserted: “…it's a tiger…”.</p><p>Gaikwad could not be contacted. </p><p>The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has not spoken on the issue. </p><p>Tiger is the national animal of India and is a critically endangered species under Wildlife (Protection) Act. </p>