No appeal from State to allow Kambala: Union Law Minister

December 07, 2014 01:46 pm | Updated April 07, 2016 03:11 am IST - MANGALURU

The members of District Kambala Committee submitted a memorandum to the Union Law Minister, D.V.Sadananda Gowda in Mangaluru. Photo: H.S. Manjunath.

The members of District Kambala Committee submitted a memorandum to the Union Law Minister, D.V.Sadananda Gowda in Mangaluru. Photo: H.S. Manjunath.

Union Minister for Law and Justice, D.V. Sadananda Gowda said here on Sunday that the Union Government has not received any demand or request from the Karnataka Government to allow ‘Kambala’ (slush track buffalo race) in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Gowda said that the district administration in the twin districts have taken a hasty step in banning kambala . The Deputy Commissioners of both the districts should have consulted the State government and district in-charge ministers before banning the race. Legal opinion should have been taken.

Mr. Gowda said that the State Government and the district administrations have acted irresponsibly in banning kambala which Mr. Gowda said was a rural and folk sport and should be allowed. The State Cabinet should have taken a decision on it.

Responding to a memorandum submitted by the District Kambala Committee of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod (Kerala) districts to him at his residence here on Sunday, Mr. Gowda said that he would examine it seriously.

Mr. Gowda said that he was of the view that violence free kambala should be allowed. Many owners of he-buffalos looked after the animals like a child by offering them oil massage, healthy and nutritious food, some even built air-conditioned rooms and separate swimming pool for them. This fact has not been highlighted by the activists. He was of the view that there was nothing wrong in punishing the pairs mildly while preparing them for race like how parents mildly punish their children when did some mischief.

Earlier a delegation of the committee led by Bhaskara S. Kotian who met the minister urged Mr. Gowda to intervene in the issue and ensure that there was no ban. Mr. Kotian said that the committee would ensure that kambala would be violence-free.

He said that as the government has banned kambala about 250 racers who controlled the pairs while running have lost jobs. He reminded Mr. Gowda that when he was the Chief Minister of Karnataka he had announced Rs. one crore grant in the Budget for kambala .

The memorandum said that now kambala was observed in Bhatkal and ox festival observed in Haveri.

It said that various political leaders earlier had sanctioned funds for kambala . It included former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily, former Union Minister Oscar Fernandes and former MP Vinay Kumar Sorake and present Minister of State for Youth Empowerment and Sports K. Abhayachandra Jain.

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