Panaji, Sep 3 (IANS): The Congress here on Tuesday claimed that a video of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant playing an indigenous musical instrument 'ghumot' in the company of Minister for Garbage Management Michael Lobo was out of tune with the country's wildlife laws.

Minutes after the video went viral, state Congress chief Girish Chodakar alleged that the 'ghumot' was banned because of the use of monitor lizard skin.

"Nothing wrong in CM @DrPramodPSawant and @MichaelLobo76 playing Ghumat with monitor lizard skin. The entire @BJP4India is above law @moefcc and outside the purview of Constitution of India. @PrakashJavdekar @SuPriyoBabul @PMOIndia," Chodankar tweeted. 

In the video, Sawant is seen playing 'ghumot' at his ancestral home in Pale, North Goa district, in the company of family members, friends and cabinet colleagues.

The 'ghumot', a unique percussion instrument, played during the traditional Ganesh Chaturthi arties (prayers), is made with skin of monitor lizard, locally known as garr, stretched taut across a mud-pot's mouth, forming a drum-head. 

Due to the traditional use of skin of a monitor lizard, a highly endangered wildlife species listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the instrument has been banned by the state forest department.

Interest in the musical instrument in recent years has, however, soared after makers of the instrument started replacing monitor lizard skin with she-goat skin.

Chodankar, however, alleged that the skin used in 'ghumot' played by Sawant was made of monitor lizard skin.