Peta looks for legal option to get the races banned

Mumbai: The new Maharashtra Amendment Act 2017 under Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act (PCA) has drawn criticism from various animal welfare groups, including the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

While the act puts certain conditions to ensure animal safety during the race which has been allowed on cultural and traditional grounds, welfare groups believe it would instead harm animals.

Peta’s public policy head, Nikunj Sharma said that two to three days prior to the race, animals are kept hungry to ensure their optimum performance and are whipped during the event. Peta is discussing with its lawyers about available legal avenues to get the races banned on grounds of cruelty to animals.

Organisations working for animal rights allege that bulls are hit with nail-studded sticks during races and have their nose ropes yanked. Also, they allege that bulls' tails are bitten and broken and they are allegedly forced to run past the point of exhaustion, which causes many to collapse.

Mr Sharma said, “I am not very happy with the act. Bullock-cart racing is a cruel as the poor animal is tortured and its anatomy is not made for running.”

While The Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, secretary Lt. Col Dr. J.C. Khanna,  said, “It is true that the races meant for commercial purpose should not be propagated. Animals are beaten and sometimes end up suffering a lot due to this."

Participants welcome move

People participating in such sport are buoyed and have begun preparations to hold such a race at Talegaon, Pune next week. A participant said, “We dont have any mode of entertainment in rural areas and the bullock-cart race provides that.” A race organiser said, “It is our tradition.” Bharat Bache, another participant, was of the same opinion. “We are farmers. We take good came of our bulls, I never hit them with a stick.” Meanwhile, organisers are excited about the new races, ‘Bailghoda Shariyat Aayojak.’ Anna Saheb Bhendge from Talegaon says, “We have arranged for a vet and an ambulance and will see to it that no animal is harmed. We will reject the entry of those who treat the animals harshly.”