Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 10: A special meeting of secretaries from various departments to hold discussions about the ammendment bill to allow holding of traditional folk sport of coastal Karnataka, Kambala, is being held today at New Delhi. Union minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, says that once this meeting approves the bill, it will be sent to the President for his assent within ten days.

As holding of Kambala has been currently banned by the state high court, the state government had passed an ammendment biill to the central law to allow Kambala to be held just like Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu. Gowda was speaking to media persons during his participation in the inaugural of Kudla Express train in the city on Sunday April 9.

The bill has already obtained approval of law, environment, and cultural departments. Thereafter, the bill needs approvals of environment, law, and home ministries again. As queries were raised about the steps taken to stop cruelty against animals, there was delay in passage of the bill, Gowda said.

Gowda explained that after he asked the respective ministries to get the details for the clarification sought to the above query at the central government level itself, the home ministry has convened this special meeting. "Secretaries of home, law, environment, and culture departments will take part in the meeting, and once they  give their nod, the bill will go to the President for his assent," he explained. Gowda expects Kambala to be held without any hitch once the bill gets Presidential nod.