`Special Story`: BJP MP Varun Gandhi Wants Sarus Crane Reunited With Arif

The sarus crane, who was rescued by Arif Khan and nursed for around a year, was taken to a sanctuary by the forest department citing laws.

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi on Wednesday urged the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government to release the sarus crane from the sanctuary and to reunite it with Arif Khan, who recused and nursed the bird for around a year before the forest department took it away citing laws. A day after a video of Arif visiting the bird in Kanpur went viral, he also called their story 'special'. 

Taking to his official Twitter account, Varun Gandhi shared the video of the crane fluttering around excitedly in its enclosure while looking at Arif and said that their happiness at seeing each other underscores the innocent and sacred love between the two friends. 

"This beautiful bird is meant to fly freely and not to live in a cage," the Pilibhit MP wrote in Hindi.

He added that the bird should be restored its sky, freedom and friend. 

It is noteworthy that authorities had intervened after several videos of rare camaraderi between the sarus crane and Arif went viral on social media platforms. 

Arif, a resident of Mandkha village of Amethi district, had reportedly found the injured bird in February 2022 and helped it recover.

Officials, however, took away the bird last month, arguing that it was unlawful for anyone to keep it in his or her possession. They also started legal proceedings against Arif. 

The development had also taken a political turn as opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) had come to Khan's support and had criticised the Yogi government's action.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had also met Arif and sarus crane during his visit to Amethi last month.