TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The BJP on Monday refused to endorse St Andre MLA’s campaign to legalise bull fights or dhirio in the state.
MLA Vishnu Wagh has been spearheading this campaign in his “private capacity” and has had meetings in his own constituency and in Arambol, calling for legalizing and professionalizing the traditional sport of dhirio. But the party, has refused to support its legislator in his campaign for re-starting bull-fights in the state, which were banned over a decade ago.
Speaking to media persons, BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar said that party will summon Wagh and seek his view points on the stand taken by him for legalizing bull-fights, which is against the law.
However, he denied that any disciplinary action would be taken against Wagh. “It is his individual view point. But as a party member we would call him to seek clarification on his stand,” he said adding ‘the party will not support such a stand as it is illegal’.
Tendulkar said that Wagh would be summoned after party’s national executive meeting scheduled between June 8-9.
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had banned bullfights in 2011. Over a decade prior, in December 1996, a Bombay High Court judgement had banned bull fights. The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by the Bull Owners’ Association against this judgement in January 1997, declaring dhirio illegal and against the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
