Pro-bullock cart camp gets traction

Mumbai: Taking a cue from the ongoing fervour over Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, it seems the demand for an ordinance for Maharashtra’s traditional bullock cart race is also gaining momentum in the state. Shiv Sena, a minor partner in Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government, will meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with a delegation to demand an ordinance. Its Lok Sabha MP Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil said, on Tuesday.

Mr Patil on Tuesday met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the matter. He briefed Thackeray about people’s emotions especially in western Maharashtra about the particular sport. “We will meet and demand the chief minister Devendra Fadanvis to intervene like the Tamil Nadu government. Maharashtra government should make draft of ordinance on a similar line of Jallikattu and get approval from Centre’s home ministry. We hope Devendraji will look into this on an urgent basis,” he said.

After a strong protest for Jallikattu that brought Tamil Nadu almost to a standstill, both Central and Tamil Nadu state government had to bow to the demands of protestors. While Central government issued an ordinance for Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu state government also passed a law in Tamil Nadu assembly to allow Jallikattu, citing the cultural significance of the traditional sport. The Supreme Court had banned the bull taming sport in 2014 on the grounds of animal cruelty.

A similar verdict was applicable for bullock cart race and similar activities related to bulls in Maharashtra. While accepting demands, central environment ministry in Jan 2016, has permitted Jallikattu and Bullock cart race for a day under the norm of cultural sports. But, after petition by NGO People’s for an Ethical Treatments to Animals (PETA) against central government’s clearance SC stayed the government notification.

Meanwhile, for the last three days in western Maharashtra, especially in Pune districts, bullock cart owners has held protest to allow races in the state. In addition, they are also demanding a ban on PETA.

Kamal’s salvo
South superstar Kamal Haasan has also made comments against PETA activists opposing Jallikattu. In Chennai, the Tamil superstar tweeted, “PETA go ban bull riding rodeos in Mr Trump’s US. You are not qualified to tackle our bulls. Empires have been made to quit India”. To counter Kamal Haasan’s tweet, PETA India have released a statement. It reads: PETA US has been working to stop animal abuse in the United States since 1980, where bullfighting is illegal and cruel activities associated with the rodeo, which Haasan refers to, are also against the law in many states. The rodeo is further prohibited in the UK, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. Spanish supporters of another organisation, PETA Europe, have made bullfights in many areas of Spain illegal.