Slamming the Centre’s decision to allow the popular bull taming sport jallikattu and other bull races, PETA India today said that lifting protection against cruelty is a “black mark” on the nation even as it vowed to take the fight of protecting the bulls to the Supreme Court. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said that even the BJP supporters are “horrified” that the same authorities who claimed to care about cattle are now allowing cruelty on it, even after it has been banned by the highest court of India.
Poorva Joshipura, PETA India CEOOur phones have been ringing off the hook this morning with calls from BJP supporters and others who are horrified that the same authorities who claim to care about cattle are now allowing the cruelty to cattle that was already banned by the highest court of India.
The use of bulls in performances was banned by the Environment Ministry itself in 2011 and the causing of suffering that is inherent in jallikattu, bull races and bull fights has been illegal since 1960 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Poorva Joshipura, PETA India CEOThis U-turn is being seen by many of the BJP’s own supporters as reckless, heartless, and weak. We vow to take our fight to protect bulls from cruelty back to the Supreme Court.
The reaction comes after the Centre today came out with a notification allowing the controversial bull taming sport Jallikattu in poll-bound Tamil Nadu following extensive demand for its restoration by political parties in the state.
PETA India has documented that during jallikattu, terrified bulls are often deliberately disoriented through substances like alcohol, have their tails twisted and bitten, stabbed and jabbed by sickles, spears, knives or sticks and also punched, jumped on and dragged to the ground.
Joshipura said that towns in Ecuador, Venezuela, France, Portugal and Colombia have declared themselves to be against bullfighting, and Catalonia, a region in Spain, has banned it.
Government’s Reactions
PETA India had earlier expressed concern and complained to the Animal Welfare Board of India (ABWI) following remarks by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar who had said that the government will allow jallikattu to continue while ensuring that animals are not subject to cruelty. The ABWI recently advised the environment ministry not to overturn the Supreme Court’s judgement which presently bans the bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu.
The animal rights body said that its online petition that was urging the government to keep the ban on jallikattu, bull races and bullfights had been signed by nearly 60,000 people in India alone.
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