Devendra Fadnavis meets Vantara officials to secure elephant Mahadevi’s return to Kolhapur (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had discussions with the high-ranking authorities at the Reliance Foundation's Vantara animal rescue facility in Jamnagar regarding the transfer to Kolhapur of the elephant Mahadevi (Madhuri).
The representatives of Vantara assured that they shall extend their full cooperation to the Government of Maharashtra in legal procedures, clarifying to the state that Vantara is only caring for the 36-year-old elephant in this instance under Supreme Court orders and has no intention of keeping her.
"They have agreed to join the petition Maharashtra will file to secure Mahadevi's safe return to Nandani Math," Fadnavis posted on ex-Xing.
Concerned citizens have assured Fadnavis that his government would intervene with the Nandani Math Jain shrine in filing a review petition in the Supreme Court along with an application for intervention therein.
“During the discussion, they informed me that they were only complying with the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and had no intention of taking custody of Mahadevi the elephant on their own,” the chief minister added.
A 43-kilometer protest march was held in Kolhapur, calling for the restoration of the elephant Madhuri to the nearby Jain temple. In a nonviolent display of religion and custom, devotees came together.
Vantara has also expressed its willingness to assist the state in setting up a separate rehabilitation center for Mahadevi adjacent to the shrine in Kolhapur.
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After holding a meeting over the matter on Tuesday, Fadnavis said, “Considering the public sentiments, the state government will intervene in the legal process to bring back the Mahadevi elephant. The Jain shrine will submit a review petition in the Supreme Court, and the state government will help them by submitting an intervention application.”
Following the intervention of animal welfare organizations like PETA and citing her deteriorating health condition, Mahadevi, after her relocation from Nandani Math where she had lived for over 30 years, was officially transferred to Vantara on July 28, following the upholding of the Bombay High Court ruling by the Supreme Court.
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