Benjo new head of House Com on Dhirio as SC stays Jallikattu
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 15 January 2016 19:20 IST
No matter what the Supreme Court decides, Goa government seems to be determined to take a decision on Dhirio.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today proposed a new head for the House Committee on Dhirio as Vishnu Wagh has become the deputy speaker.
Velim Independent MLA Benjamin Silva will now head the House Committee while BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral will replace Wagh.
The other committee members are Alex Reginald Lourenco, Kiran Kandolkar and Caitu Silva.
Wagh already had some hearings on the demand of legalising Dhirio which probably Silva will now take ahead.
Goa Assembly has no powers to legalise Dhirio since Cruelty to Animals Act is a central legislation and can be amended only by the Parliament.
Dhirio was initially banned by the Bombay high court at Goa on 20 December 1996 while the Supreme Court in January 1997 had dismissed the appeal filed by the All Goa Bull Owners’ Association.
Several attempts made by Goa government as well as MPs of Goa to get Dhirio legalised were rejected by the central government.
Meanwhile, illegally organising small events of Dhirio continues in Goa.
But the enthusiastic bull owners had to face yet another high court petition this year from the People for Animals.
The NGO has approached the high court against CM Parsekar as well as head of Goa police since they allowed a big event of Dhirio organised at Harmal during Ganesh Chaturthi last year.
Following this, the central government led by the BJP issued a notification this month permitting Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, held at the time of Pongal festival but was banned by the Supreme Court.
The apex court has also stayed this attempt.
Union environment and forest minister Prakash Jawadekar had assured to legalise all such events, which include Jallikattu in TN, Dhirio in Goa, bullock cart race in Maharashtra, Kambala in Karnataka, and some sort of race using bullocks in Punjab.
the bjp government has banned killing of animals cows and bulls that were used for food. yet the same government is willing to buy votes by permitting animal cruelty all for the sake of fun! incredible india!!