MARGAO
Demanding that the Goa government take steps to legalise dhirios on the lines of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha on Friday said it is not cruelty when the owners take the bulls or buffaloes for a fight, but a law of nature before procreation.
Complementing the Tamil Nadu government for the law on Jallikattu which has been affirmed by the Supreme Court, Sardinha said the government and the people of the Southern Indian state have only tried to protect their tradition and culture.
While making a fervent plea to the Goa government to legalise dhirios in the State, the South Goa MP said dhirios have been part of Goan culture over the years. “When we were small, dhirios were being organised during the feast fair, where bulls and buffaloes were made to fight. Today, the dhirios have been banned,” he said.
Pointing out that animal lovers considered bull fights as cruelty for the animals, Sardinha said, “I do not know how to open their eyes since it a law of nature that bulls fight before procreation.”
Reminding that he had in the past tabled a Bill in Parliament to legalise dhirios in Goa, Sardinha said the bill, however, did not find favour with the members of Parliament. “I had cited an instance of the unfortunate death of a Goan footballer in Karnataka on the playing field and whether the government will ban football because of the incident. There are several incidents during motor cross and motorcycle racing, many might have died, but the sport is not banned,” he said.
“We want to ascertain who’s the champion in these races. In the same way, bull and buffalo lovers take the animals for the bull fight. This is not cruelty, but this is the law of nature before procreation.
