State has not requested Centre to allow Kambala: Sadananda

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

Mr. Gowda told reporters here that the administration in the two districts had 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, and taken legal opinion before banning Kambala, he said.

Kambala was a rural and folk sport and should be allowed, he said, and added that the State Cabinet should have taken a decision on it, he said.

The District Kambala Committee of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod (Kerala) submitted a memorandum to him here on Sunday.

Mr. Gowda said he was of the view that violence-free Kambala should be allowed. Many owners of he-buffaloes looked after the animals like children by providing them oil massage and nutritious food, and some even building air-conditioned rooms and swimming pool for them. This fact had not been highlighted by activists.

Earlier, a delegation of the committee led by Bhaskara S. Kotian urged Mr. Gowda to intervene in the issue and ensure that the ban was lifted. Mr. Kotian said the committee would ensure that Kambala would be violence-free. He said that in view of the ban, about 250 racers who controlled the buffaloes while running had lost their job. He reminded Mr. Gowda that when he was the Chief Minister, he had announced Rs. 1-crore grant for Kambala.