Rahul Gandhi, Harsh Vardhan spar over killing of tigress

No previous government has worked with the kind of "depth and seriousness" this dispensation has, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said Monday as he hit back at Congress president Rahul Gandhi's barb at the Centre over the killing of tigress Avni.

The government does not need a certificate from Rahul Gandhi, Vardhan said.

He said a report has been sought by his ministry over the killing of Avni, who is believed to be responsible for the deaths of 13 people in the past two years, on Friday as part of an operation in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district.

Earlier on Monday, Rahul Gandhi tweeted,"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi #Avni."
Asked if his ministry has sought a report, the Environment Minister said,"This is a natural process. Whenever there is any incident, report comes to the department."