Environmental groups have formally petitioned both the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) against three Congress legislators from Kerala, accusing them of taking an 'anti-wildlife' stance. The petitions specifically target MP Dean Kuriakose and MLAs Senapathy Venu and Sandeep Varier.
Petition Details and Allegations
The complaints, submitted to AICC and KPCC leadership, allege that the three leaders have consistently opposed wildlife conservation measures and have advocated for policies detrimental to forest and animal protection in the state. According to the environmentalists, the lawmakers have been vocal in opposing restrictions on human-wildlife conflict mitigation that prioritize animal welfare over development projects.
Background of the Dispute
The petition stems from recent statements and actions by the three Congress leaders that environmentalists claim undermine existing wildlife protection laws. MP Dean Kuriakose, representing the Idukki constituency, has been criticized for supporting deforestation-linked infrastructure projects. MLAs Senapathy Venu and Sandeep Varier have reportedly opposed the relocation of elephants from human-dominated areas and have called for relaxation of forest clearance norms.
Environmental groups argue that such positions contradict the Congress party's stated commitment to environmental conservation. They have urged the party leadership to take disciplinary action and ensure that elected representatives align with ecological sustainability principles.
Party Response and Next Steps
As of the report's publication, neither the AICC nor the KPCC has issued a formal response to the petitions. The Congress party in Kerala has historically balanced development and conservation, but internal divisions have emerged as human-wildlife conflicts intensify in the state. The petitioners have demanded a clear policy directive from the party high command to prevent future anti-environment stances by its members.
