The ensuing South Goa Lok Sabha polls have major political parties asking for votes promising to revive banned buffalo fight in the state. The move, however, has irked the animal welfare organizations in the state who have condemned this move to legalise cruelty towards animal.
Goa will witness crucial Lok Sabha by-poll on October 30.
Congress and BJP have fielded their respective candidates for this poll. While Goa Pradesh congress committee president Fransisco Sardinha is representing congress, BJP has a surgeon, former minster Dr Wilfred Mesquita, as its candidate.
The congress kicked off the election campaign promising to revive banned buffalo fights in the state. The stand is considered as a populist measure to woo votes for their party.
Buffalo fight or Bull fight, locally known as ‘Dhirio’ is most popular village game which evoke huge crowd especially in coastal Salcette taluka. The political parties are trying to encash on this ‘popularity.’
BJP, too, has drawn pro-dhirio line as a part of its election plank.
“If voted to power, I will move an amendment to the cruelty to animals act and ensure that buffalo fights are not covered in its purview,” Congress candidate Fransisco Sardinha said during his maiden press conference after filing the nomination.
BJP Goa unit spokesman Govind Parvatkar said that the party supports buffalo fights, which is a very popular game.
The animal lovers in the state are irked over this political race to legalise cruelty towards animals.
People for animal, an animal welfare organization, in the state, had moved to the court way back in 1997 and got a ban on Dhirio. Goa Bull owners association’s move to get a stay on high court’s decision also failed when apex court upheld HC order.
“This is an attempt to fool the public to make believe that it’s possible to get an amendment? it’s not because most of the MPs will have to agree for this,” PFA activist Norma Alvares stated.
She said that the public should not fall pray to the political tricks of the parties who are wooing voters in the name of Dhirio.
Courtesy:mangalorean
One Trackback
[...] Lok Sabha by-poll campaign was launched this evening in the twin constituencies, Vasco and Mormugao, of Mormugao [...]