Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and bullfight supporters are now on the same page. After reports that eight bullfights were held in Parsekar's constituency were published, the Chief Minister, instead of giving the usual assurances that the law would be upheld, came out strongly in favour of dhirios. His rationale was that the sport has the support of the people. According to his estimate about 6,000 people gather to watch a bullfight and this is proof enough for an amendment to the law.
Of course, a more humane way will have to be found to ensure that the animals are not injured and to this end it was suggested, again by Parsekar, that the horns could be capped. Also, bullfights would have to be held in specified areas with sufficient safety measures to ensure that humans are not harmed by bulls.
No one doubts that bullfights enjoy the support of the people. And it is not surprising for politicians to go along with the people because in a democracy, it is numbers that count and no politician worth his salt will turn his or her back on voters. Presently, a House Committee headed by Vishnu Wagh is studying the matter and examining ways in which to bring the sport back and ensure that animals are neither ill-treated nor tortured. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the Centre is doing a re-think on the issue and was considering an amendment to the law to allow Jallikattu, a popular bullfight sport in Tamil Nadu. There is every possibility that dhirios will slip though the loophole created for Tamil Nadu.
At the political level, none of the major political parties have come out against bullfights. Practically every elected representative of the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency has promised to move bills in Parliament to legalise bullfights. None have succeeded, the reason being the difficulty in amending the law and a lack of consensus at the Centre. Also, with the BJP locking horns with the Congress an amendment would seem quite remote.
For the last 15 years or so the ban on bullfights in the State has, to some extent, ensured that animals are not used for entertainment. However, the letter and spirit of the law is not always followed. Bullfights are held and with politicians showing little enthusiasm in stopping them, the police tend to turn a blind eye to the sport. A few cases are booked but the sport continues because it has widespread support. Its locus standi is similar to matka -- illegal, yet popular.
The question that stares us in the face is, is there a humane way of organising bullfights? If boxing is a sport then why can't bullfights be conferred the same importance and status? Boxing is probably more bloody than bullfights, but it is regulated and a very high paying sport where winner and loser walk away with heavy wallets. There is a cultural element to bullfights and that is why it refuses to go away, like in Spain. A rethink on bullfights is definitely required, chiefly to examine if it can continue as a sport with regulations to protect animals from undue injury.
