Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Nov 5: Addressing a press conference on Wednesday November 4 at Subrahmanya, taluk convener of Bajrang Dal, Vinay Kumar Kandadka, warned that the Dal, with the help of Hindu Jagaran Vedike and Vishwamangala Gau Grama Yatre Samiti, will enforce a ban on the annual Kulkunda Cattle Fair, from which the famous Kannada expression, ‘Subrahmanya Jodi’ has come to be coined, from next year onwards. He said that this ban will come into effect, if nothing is done to stop the fair being transformed into a centre of supplying cattle to the slaughter houses of Kerala.

“The very relevance of continuing with this once-famous cattle fair is under clouds. After complaints about the misuse of the cattle sold in the fair had emerged two years ago, the Subrahmanya gram panchayat had enforced certain restrictions for the proper holding of the fair, resulting in a fall in the number of cows going to abattoirs. However, this year, the rules have become slack again,” he complained.

He pointed out, that the fair, held for a week earlier, has been extended to ten days now, and that the condition regarding the need to obtain certificate from the veterinary officer before transportation, has been done away with. Last year, only those holding record of rights or other relevant land records, were alone eligible to buy the cattle, but middlemen have made their presence felt this year, he said. Kandadka also claimed that some middlemen are seen in possession of dozens of records of rights. The necessity of a man having 20 cents of land buying four pairs of bullocks and buffaloes does not make sense, he remarked.

Kandadka said that transportation of cattle from the fair in vehicles, by loading the animals in an inhuman way, has been defaming this cattle fair. He felt, only one tenth of the cattle sold here are used for farming purpose, while the rest directly go to the slaughter houses. He challenged those disagreeing with him, to an open debate on this point.

Hindu  Jagaran Vedike taluk convener Ganesh Nair and Dharma Jagaran district convener Kishore Shirady were present.