Terming the Presidential assent to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill 2017 that insulates Kambala from the purview of the Act as regressive, People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has vowed to continue its efforts to stop Kambala.
In a release, PETA India CEO Manilal Valliyate said that while countries around the world are increasingly enacting laws against spectacles involving harm to animals, India continues to regress further into the dark ages by allowing spectacles such as Jallikattu and Kambala. This is a black mark on the nation which is fast losing what was its honourable reputation as a country that respects animals.
He said, “What, in essence, has been approved is the punching of buffaloes in the face, yanking them by their nose ropes, hitting them with sticks and forcing them to race despite their being anatomically ill suited to do — all cruelties which have been documented at Kambala events — to please those few with gambling and other vile vested interests in causing buffaloes fear, pain, suffering, distress, and anguish.”
Having challenged the Ordinance which was promulgated owing to delay in Presidential assent to the Bill before the Supreme Court, PETA said that it has already challenged the Constitutional validity of similar Acts in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra allowing Jallikattu and bullock cart races respectively before the Supreme Court. While the matter is referred to a five-judge Bench, PETA would now examine the Karnataka Act and continue its efforts to stop Kambala, Dr. Valliyate said.
He noted PETA has investigated seven Kambala events in the State since the promulgation of the Ordinance in July 2017. The investigation has found that buffaloes were subjected to severe cruelty.
