PIC: BULL
Bull owners led by Simon Caido that called on Benaulim MLA Ciatu Silva for support to the proposed Bill to resume dhirios in the State.
Santosh Mirajkar
HEADING
Where there's a Bill, there's a
way; bulls may lock horns again
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Bull owners on Monday knocked the doors of Salcete MLAs to drum up support for a Bill to be tabled in the monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly to legalise dhirios in the State.
Led by Simon Caido, the bull owners had a meeting with Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva at the Benaulim Panchayat hall and later called on Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai at his residence seeking support for the Bill. Both the MLAs extended their full support to the bull owners and assured to support the proposed Bill in the house.
Simon Caido told the media after the meeting with the Benaulim MLA that the bull owners have approached Caitu and Vijai to support the Bill in the House which will be tabled by BJP San Andre MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh. “Dhirios is not cruelty. It is a sport that has been prevalent in the State since the Portuguese era. We are even ready to abide by any restrictions, including horns of the bulls,” he said.
Caido recalled that Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured the people of Benaulim on the eve of the last Lok Sabha polls to legalise dhirios. “We are confident that Parrikar will use his good offices and get the Bill passed,” he said.
Expressing his full support to the Bill to legalise dhirios, the Benaulim MLA said most of the MLAs are in favour of resumption of dhirios in the state. “Everyone wants dhirios. It is a sport, tradition and our culture. The sport is held normally during the harvest season. I will ask my counterparts from other constituencies for support to the Bill”, Caitu added.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that since Union Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar has favoured lifting of the ban on Tamil Nadu’s Jallikatu, all the Goan MPs and ministers in the Union Cabinet should push Goa’s dhirios before the Centre. “I am of the strong opinion that dhirios is not cruelty. We are even ready to adopt adequate safeguards. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has shown his willingness to push the case of dhirios, but his government should get the Bill passed in the House. The government should ensure that it puts up a strong case that dhirios is nothing but taming of the bulls,” he said.
The Independent MLA said he and other MLAs will come out with a Bill to legalise dhirios if the government does not support the Bill to be tabled in the coming session of the Legislative Assembly.
BOX OR S/C
Shantaram bats
for dhirios
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Openly batting for the resumption of dhirios in the state in the state, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik on Monday urged the Goa government to file a review petition or a writ in the Supreme Court for the lifting of ban on the Goan popular sport.
Addressing the media, Naik disclosed plans to table a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament and also impress upon Union Minister for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar on the subject.
“The Supreme Court order on banning bull fights is exhaustive. But, I still feel that the Goa government can file a review petition in the Apex Court and get the ban lifted. I don’t think there is cruelty of animals during bull fights, but even if there is cruelty, the government can suggest necessary guidelines to prevent the same,” he added.
Naik reminded that dhirios still remain a popular festival in Goa despite the ban, while urging the government to go for a review.
