MARGAO
Dhirio lovers flexed their muscles at the lover's beach, Betalbatim on Monday evening, with former Minister Mickky Pacheco demanding that the government immediately bring an Ordinance to ensure smooth conduct of the dhirios as a traditional sport without police interference, even as Bull Fight Association chief Simon Caido urged dhirio lovers not to stop holding the traditional sport in their respective villages till the government comes out with a law to protect the dhirios.
A large number of dhirio
lovers assembled close to the beach on Monday evening, apparently to witness a planned dhirio, only to be addressed by Mickky and Simon, both of them strongly rooting for the legalisation of the dhirios.
"For how long will we do settings and fixings with the police and pay them the hafta to organise the dhirios like matka. In 2006, the government had passed an Amendment to legalise dhirios. The Amendment Bill had received the assent of the Governor. We have to hold the dhirios as per the Amendment," Mickky told the dhirio lovers.
He pointed out that if the implementation of the Amendment is delayed on account of enactment of any additional clauses, the government should immediately come out with an Ordinance to save the traditional sport and give effect to the 2006 Amendment.
"The authorities had tightened the screws on matka gambling and the haftas have only increased manifold. The culture of paying haftas for the police should stop immediately. We should hold the dhirios as per the Amendment," Mickky told the gathering.
In his address, Simon Caido said the delay in legalising the dhirios has left the bull owners with no option now than to hold the traditional sport everyday. "Let the police go on filing cases against us. At least, it will open the eyes of the government in power to legalise the sports on the lines of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu," he told the dhirio lovers.
Simon recalled that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had in the past promised to the dhirio lovers in Benaulim to legalise dhirios, lamenting that successive governments have failed to resolve the issue till date. "We have been waging a battle to legalise dhirios since the mid-90's. Now, we have been left with no option than to hold the dhirios and face the police cases registered on us," he said.
"For how long will we do settings and fixings with the police and pay them the hafta to organise the dhirios like matka. In 2006, the government had passed an Amendment to legalise dhirios. The Amendment Bill had received the assent of the Governor. We have to hold the dhirios as per the Amendment," Mickky told the dhirio lovers.
He pointed out that if the implementation of the Amendment is delayed on account of enactment of any additional clauses, the government should immediately come out with an Ordinance to save the traditional sport and give effect to the 2006 Amendment.
"The authorities had tightened the screws on matka gambling and the haftas have only increased manifold. The culture of paying haftas for the police should stop immediately. We should hold the dhirios as per the Amendment," Mickky told the gathering.
In his address, Simon Caido said the delay in legalising the dhirios has left the bull owners with no option now than to hold the traditional sport everyday. "Let the police go on filing cases against us. At least, it will open the eyes of the government in power to legalise the sports on the lines of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu," he told the dhirio lovers.
Simon recalled that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had in the past promised to the dhirio lovers in Benaulim to legalise dhirios, lamenting that successive governments have failed to resolve the issue till date. "We have been waging a battle to legalise dhirios since the mid-90's. Now, we have been left with no option than to hold the dhirios and face the police cases registered on us," he said.
