Ganesh urged to quit Elephant Owners Federation

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Elephant Lovers Association secretary V K Venkitachalam has urged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to issue strict orders to Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar to quit his charge as president of the Elephant Owners’ Federation.Venkitachalam said Ganesh’s continuance as president of the Federation was a violation of the oath of office. "This Federation is made up of people who keep elephants in their custody violating the provisions of at least five statutes, namely, The Wildlife Protection Act 1972, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, The Declaration of Wildlife Stock Rule 2003, The Kerala Captive Elephant Management and Maintenance Rules 2003, and the Performing Animals Registration Rules 2001," Venkitachalam said. The demand was made in a letter written to the Chief Minister and Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh the other day.