Govt assurance to legalise Dhirio is election stunt: Norma
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 10 December 2015 23:16 IST
Goa is not authorised to legalise Dhirio. The politicians are simply fooling the people for their electoral gains, says People for Animals, Goa.
Adv Norma Alvares, president of PFA, plans to go before the House Committee headed by St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh and tell them to stop making use of Dhirio as the election stunt.
She is convinced that the politicians are playing double game with their constituents while also hoodwinking the court.
The PFA has filed a contempt petition before the Bombay high court at Goa in October against Goa’s Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, the Inspector General of Police and Police Inspector of Pernem.
On the occasion of Chovoth festival, eight rounds of Dhirio were organised at Paliem-Harmal, in CM’s Mandrem constituency on 20 September in violation of total ban on bull fights in Goa since 1996.
In response to this petition, she says, Goa’s Chief Secretary R K Srivastava told the court that ‘due action will be taken against those who violate the law. In the light of this background, the question of anyone re-starting bull fights in Goa simply does not arise.’
And the question arose, since yet another Dhirio was organised last week, right in front of Anjuna police station.
“I have attached the newspaper reports with photos and submitted it to the court. The Anjuna PI had to appear before the court today”, said Adv Alvares.
She also informed that her lawyer Adv Subodh Kantak has requested the court to send the violators to jail, without which the administration and the police would not realise the seriousness of the issue.
According to her, Goa simply cannot pass any legislation since Cruelty to Animals Act is a central law and Goa Assembly has no authority either to amend it or formulate a new law of its own.
She also informed how the state act made by Tamil Nadu government to allow Jallikattu (animal fights) was struck down by the Supreme Court.
And in the Parliament, she recalled, the then Congress government had rejected private member’s bill moved by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha because the courts have banned bull fights.
The Bombay high court at Goa had banned Dhirio on 20 December 1996 while the Supreme Court, in January 1997, had dismissed the appeal filed against this order by the All Goa Bull Owners’ Association.
While some stray incidents of Dhirio were happening occasionally, Adv Alvares is worried because Dhirio have been organised now with total protection from the chief minister of the state.
She is also worried because it is directly linked to gambling and betting activities and animals are forced to fight in a cruel manner for somebody’s financial benefits.
But why then Dhirio continues in spite of a court ban? She explains:
There is no political will to enforce the law.
Politicians are encouraging Dhirio to woo the voters.
Penalty for violating the act is not more than Rs 100.
In support of Goa’s PFA, the Humane Society International has also come forward, mobilising signatures worldwide through on-line petition against Goa government’s move to restart Dhirio.
“We have collected over 8000 signatures within a week, which we are presenting to Goa government as well as the House Committee”, said Shreya Paropkari, Cruelty Response Manager.
Atul Sarin, Siolim-based animal rights activist, also points out that holy books of all religions say that no animal should be injured.
“It’s neither our culture nor our tradition to injure any animal. It’s the legacy of erstwhile colonial rulers we are following shamelessly”, says Adv Alvares.
If animals can be killed to eat why not use them for amusement and gaming. Animal lovers should also question why we should rear animals? Why the pet animals.? Let the animals be free without human intervention.