Chief Minister’s initiative to bring back Madhuri alias Mahadevi elephant to Nandani Math

Vipul Vaidya
Mumbai: There is a public sentiment that “Madhuri” elephant of Nandani Math (Tal. Shirol, District Kolhapur) should be brought back to Nandani math. Keeping this public sentiment in mind, Nandani Math should file a review petition in the Supreme Court. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the state government is fully support the Math in this matter, saying that the state government will also file a separate review petition and present its position regarding the return of the elephant to the math in Supreme Court.

A meeting was held in the Cabinet Hall of the Ministry under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the issue of Madhuri alias Mahadevi elephant at Nandani Math (Tal. Shirol, District Kolhapur). Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Abitkar, along with representatives of the Nandani Math and public representatives were present.

A team will be formed with doctors to take care of the elephant
Considering the traditions of the Nandani Math and the sentiments of the local people, efforts will be made to bring Madhuri alias Mahadevi the elephant back to the Math through legal process, Chief Minister said that Madhuri the elephant has been in the Nandani Math for the last 34 years. There is a public sentiment that Madhuri should come back to the Math. Keeping this public sentiment in mind, the state government will file a review petition. The Math should also include the state government in its petition. Also, a separate detailed position will be presented in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Forest Department. In this, all the issues suggested by the high-level committee and the criteria of the Central Zoo Authority will be resolved. The state government will form a team including doctors to take care of the elephant and provide all the necessary assistance. If necessary, arrangements like a rescue center will be made and facilities will be provided accordingly. The petition will also request the Supreme Court to appoint an independent committee to investigate these matters, the Chief Minister said. He also said that the cases registered against citizens in this case will be withdrawn.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the Forest Department should collect information about all the elephants that were taken out of Maharashtra. The public representatives present on this occasion expressed their position that the state government should take the initiative to bring back Madhuri the elephant, keeping in mind the feelings of the citizens. On this occasion, MP Dhairyashil Mane, MP Vishal Patil, MLAs Rajendra Patil-Yadrawkar, Vishwajit Kadam, Satej Patil, Ashok Mane, Sadabhau Khot, Rahul Awade, Amal Mahadik, former MP Raju Shetty, former MLA Prakash Awade, Pujya Swastishree Jinsen Mahaswamiji of Nandani Math, President of Jain Minority Development Corporation Lalit Gandhi, Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department Milind Mhaiskar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Srinivas Rao, Kolhapur District Collector Amol Yedge, etc., along with Jain Swamis and local representatives were present.