TEAM HERALD
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MERCES: Stating that bullfight is a tradition of the Goan farmers which needs to be revived, St Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh vowed that he will continue to fight on behalf of bullfight lovers till bullfights are legalized in the State.
Wagh even suggested that stadiums could be built for bullfights and that horns could be capped with rubber to ensure safety of the animals.
Wagh made the statement at a meeting organized by former All Goa Bull Owners Association president Simon Caiado at Goa Velha on Saturday, which was attended by hundreds of bullfight lovers from across the State.
“I have the support of several MLAs, including Caitu Silva, Benjamin Silva, Avertano Furtado, Glen Ticlo, Vijai Sardessai, Babush Monserrate, Pandurang Madkaikar and Michael Lobo,” he added, while stating that he has already briefed the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on the issue.
Naming several other politicians who got elected several times by using bullfight as a platform, Wagh questioned why these politicians had deserted the bullfight owners when they needed them the most.
Stating that in the States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, there is a Supreme Court judgement that allows holding of bullfights if enough precaution is taken to avoid injury to the animals, Wagh questioned why bullfights can’t be resumed in Goa by giving an undertaking to the apex court on the safety of the animals.
Stating that bullfights were started in Goa by the farming community who after a long and tiring work in the fields, during the harvest season, were locking the bulls into a fight so that they could get some entertainment, a tradition which continued till some NGOs approached the supreme court and stopped the activity.
“I have a plan in mind wherein stadiums could be built for bullfights and the horns could be capped with rubber,” he added, while informing that rules could be made to ensure safety of the animals.
“Animal lovers have apprehension over the safety of the animals and cry that the animals undergo cruelty during bullfights,” he quipped while informing that farmers also don’t want the animals to be hurt as they treat them with due respect.
“Farmers treat the animals like their own children and at times even go hungry so that the animals could be fed,” he stated and asked if this amounted to cruelty or love towards the animals.
Wagh further urged the people to come out in large numbers at every meeting that will be organized all over the State, so that the courts and the government take note of their grievances.
Speaking on the occasion, Simon Caiado came down heavily on the erstwhile Congress government for failing to reply to the Supreme Court that bullfights is a tradition of Goa, which resulted in the ban on bullfights.
He further urged Parrikar to keep his promise made during that last Lok Sabha election that he will pursue the cause of bullfight lovers.
“If the government fails to support us, we will be forced to field candidates in both constituencies in the upcoming Lok Sabha election,” warned Caiado.
A bullfight owner, Melvyn D’Souza, also spoke on the occasion. Several bullfight owners from Taleigao, Goa Velha, Agassaim, Merces, Arambol, Colva, Guirim, Anjuna and Curtorim attended the meeting. Also present on the occasion were Hajim, a bull supplier, and Sanju Samant, a bullfight organizer, both from Maharashtra.
Wagh questioned why bullfights can’t be resumed in Goa by giving an undertaking to the apex court on the safety of the animals
