PANJIM: Close on the heels of the Supreme Court referring the legality of bullfights in Tamil Nadu, known as Jallikattu as part of Pongal festivities, to a Constitutional bench, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has decided to move the Apex Court to lift the ban on Dhirios (bullfights in Goa).
Speaking to Herald, late Friday evening, Chief Minister Parrikar said, “I have been informed of the Supreme Court decision (to refer the Jallikattu matter to a larger constitutional bench – read report on page 10). The Goa government will also move the Supreme Court, to refer the matter to a constitutional bench to get the ban on dhirio lifted. We will however take all precautions (if dhirio is allowed) to ensure safety of all.”
A senior legal expert, who has been party to this decision, in an advisory capacity said that the government, having made the decision, may exercise the option of doing so on behalf of dhirio organisers and owners of fighter bulls. Owners of fighter bulls had, under the umbrella of the All Goa Bull and Buffalo Owners Association, challenged the judgment banning all bullfights. The landmark judgment, delivered by Panjim bench of the Bombay High Court, which not just banned bullfights ‘but all other fights of like nature involving animals, including birds, which can cause them injury’. This happened after the death of a person at a dhirio.
The move assumes immense significance, in the light of the fact that the traditional sport, extremely popular in the villages of central and south Goa, has an emotional fan following with many of Goa’s politicians like Churchill Alemao and Vijai Sardesai, backing the traditional sport.
The government has pretty much taken a balanced approach on the issue keeping all sensibilities in mind and has taken decisions based on judicial intervention
In December 2015, the Goa Legislative Assembly had issued a public notice seeking comments/representations from stakeholders/NGOs/individuals/institutions on restarting the banned bullfights.
But after the High Court order, Information and Publicity Department on March 1 2016 issued a statement which mentioned: “If any person is found violating the above order passed by the High Court (he or she) shall be liable for criminal action as per law.”
On Jan 21, 2017 the Tamil Nadu governor on passed an Ordinance lifting the ban on Jallikattu following protests from several sections of society supporting the bull-taming sport. After this then I&B minister Venkaiah Naidu (now Vice President of India) had indicated that the ban on Goa’s traditional bull-fighting, dhirio, is open to be reconsidered.
He had said, “The jallikattu ban was most stringent under Congress’s Jairam Ramesh as environment minister. If there are any demands, we will see the cultural background, consider the sentiments of locals and decide accordingly based on the wishes of the people.”
Dhirio lovers will naturally welcome this decision of the Goa government as the predominant feeling is that dhirio is not only a necessity but is part of Goan heritage and the act of banning the sport is anti-Goan and it is the Xaxtikars in particular that swear by this sentiment.
Animal welfare groups like People For Animals, who have called for a ban on this sport will expectedly oppose this.
