He pointed out that the BJP got an absolute majority in Goa and, more importantly, had the numbers in the Lok Sabha. He said, “Dhirio-lovers are eagerly waiting for Goa’s BJP MPs to convince their colleague to look at a similar sport ‘dhirio,’ which is very popular in Goa, but was banned for infliction of pain or suffering on the animals.”
On June 17, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar declared the Centre’s intention to allow Jallikattu, a popular bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu, by lifting the ban or, if necessary, amending the laws.
Sardessai further said, “Failure to get the Centre to give equal status to dhirios means the Goan MPs are either not bothered about espousing this popular sport or they lack the will and strength to pursue Goa-centric matters in Delhi.”
Sardesai, who recently called for a Goa-centric regional front, lamented the Centre and state government’s predictable U-turn on the demand for special status to Goa, promised by the BJP and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the Lok Sabha polls.
He added, “For once, the Congress should support the BJP; their lone Goan Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik should pursue the matter in the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress have better numbers.
