Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Oct 7: Union minister for statistics and programme implementation, D V Sadananda Gowda, said that the central government has taken all steps to affectively counter the fresh application moved by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in the Supreme Court against allowing Kambala sport. The minister reiterated that there is no question of sacrificing Kambala, a sport that depicts rich culture of coastal Karnataka.
Gowda was speaking to media persons at his residence in the city on Saturday October 6. "There is likelihood of PETA case coming up for hearing before the Supreme Court on Monday. On behalf of the central government, steps have been taken to save Kambala. Discussions have been held with the attorney general of the central government about the steps needed to be taken to stand our ground. Actions needed to be taken by the state government would be discussed with the advocate general and law minister of the state," he explained.
He noted that Jallikattu sport involving cattle is continuing successfully in Tamil Nadu and that a few have been trying to harm Kambala sport, which is a part of our culture. "We will fight with all our might to retain Kambala. If necessary, we will make efforts to save Kambala even if a new law needs to be enacted for the purpose," he stated.
He said that PETA representatives have been arguing that buffalos are tortured during Kambala races. He said that sticks are held by the buffalo runners as a symbolic gesture and not to punish the animals. Those who oppose Kambala are playing with the sentiments of the people of Dakshina Kannada, Kasargod, and Udupi districts and inflicting mental agony on them, he analysed.
DVS felt that a few amendments need to be made in the current Kambala bill. He said that clause about not racing the buffalos when the outside temperature is over 37 degrees needs to be amended as this temperature is normally found in coastal districts in summer. He also said that there is no need to specify the length of the Kambala fields. He added that depending on the stand of the court, discussions would be held with the law minister of the state about modifications needed.
Convener of the district Kambala Samiti, Seetaram Shetty, said that the Samiti has designed the stick being handled by the concerned by adding two 2" x 6" foam strips at two places to the other end of the stick so that even if the animals come in contact with the sticks, the animals do not suffer any pain. If necessary, these samples would be produced in the court, he added.
Gowda used this occasion to insist that he had been unnecessarily accused ot starving coastal districts by approving Yettinahole project. "My critics have been proven wrong. Being the chief minister of Karnataka, I was having the responsibility of mitigating water shortage. Rivers in the coast overflow during the rainy season, and water is lifted from the rivers only during this period under the said project," he explained.
Gowda said that he will again fight the coming Lok Sabha election from Bengaluru, but that he will always strive for the interests of coastal Karnataka, which gradually elevated him in politics. He said as per indications, BJP will independently win over 300 Lok Sabha seats, and predicted fall of the coalition government in the state before the election, going by the activities going on among the coalition partners and administrative failure.
In view of the possibility of PETA case being taken by Supreme Court on Monday, office bearers of Dakshina Kannada district Kambala Samiti met Sadananda Gowda on Saturday and held discussions with him. President of the Samiti, P R Shetty, former president, Bhaskar Kotian, general secretary, Rajeev Shetty, treasurer, Suresh K Poojay and others were present.