PANJIM: Raising strong objections to the State government’s decision to consider legalizing bullfights – Dhirio – in Goa, animal welfare organizations, have alleged that the move is towards creating a vote bank in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of 2017 Assembly elections.
The organizations – Humane Society International-India, People for Animals (PFA)-Goa and Welfare for Animals (WFA) in Goa – have accused Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar of encouraging illegal bullfights in the State, through his statements that bullfights will help promote tourism and generate revenue to locals. They have also alleged that the government is under pressure from the gambling lobby.
Addressing a joint press conference on Thursday, the animal welfare advocates called upon the government to stop its plans to legalize bullfights, as it is illegal, given that the High Court of Bombay (Goa Bench) and Supreme Court prohibited it under Section 11(1)(m)(ii) and (n) the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act 1960.
A petition in this regard has been submitted to the Secretary, Goa Legislative Assembly objecting to formation of the House Committee on bullfights headed by BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh. An online petition drafted by the Humane Society International-India, has received more than 8,000 signatures, and will be submitted to the Secretary.
PFA President Adv Norma Alvares said that Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a Central government legislation that prohibits cruelty to animals and the State has no power to change the legislation. “Their entire move of forming a House Committee and creating hope in the minds of people of legalizing the fights is nothing but an attempt to get people on their side ahead of the Assembly elections, scheduled in 2017,” she alleged.
“Dhirio is not an exhibition or display of strength of the animal. It is also not a game but it is organized for profit and for the entertainment of those who come to watch and to bet on the outcome,” Alvares said adding since gambling is an intrinsic part of bullfights, there is always a possibility that government is under pressure even from betting agents.
PFA, whose petition before the High Court in 1996, led to the ban on bullfights in Goa, slammed the chief minister for his repeated statements encouraging bullfights, as a result of which in the recent month there has been emergence of bullfights in the State.
The animal welfare activists also raised questions over setting up of House Committee, which has no powers to amend or enact any legislation. PFA has appealed for a hearing on the issue by the House committee.
