After Jallikattu, Karnataka Sees Widespread Protests for Kambala

Kambala, like Jallikattu, was banned after animal rights group PETA approached the High Court.

Kamabala. (Photo: PTI)

With the Tamil Nadu state government promulgating an Ordinance to conduct the bull-taming sport Jallikattu amidst widespread agitations across the state, a similar movement seems to be brewing in the neighbouring state of Karnataka.

Stepping up pressure on the government following the success of the Jallikattu stir in Tamil Nadu, students, artistes and politicians staged a massive protest in Manga, demanding removal of the ban on Kambala, a traditional buffalo race which is held annually in the coastal region.

All-College Students' Association along with Tulu film artistes, Yakshagana artistes, politicians and members of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike staged protests at Hampankatta here, lending momentum to the growing demand on the issue.

Noted personalities from the Tulu film industry including actors Devdas Kapikad, Naveen D Padil, Bhojaraj Vamanjoor, director-producer Vijay Kumar Kodailbail, BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Congress MLA Mohiuddin Bava and others, called for immediate government action to ensure the continuation of Kambala.

Students from various colleges formed a human chain.

Kambala, like Jallikattu, was banned after animal rights group PETA approached the court, citing animal cruelty in sports like bull-taming and buffalo-racing.

AIADMK Karnataka unit workers staged a protest demanding lifting of the ban on Kambala and demanded a ban on PETA, which has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court to restrain the sport.

AIADMK activists and leaders took out processions raising slogans against PETA and demanded that the Siddaramaiah government bring in an ordinance at the earliest to clear the decks to conduct Kambala.

Karnataka is not the only state that has decided to follow Tamil Nadu in demanding protection of their traditional sports. The Shiv Sena will reportedly hold protests in Maharashtra demanding that the ban on bullock-cart-racing be lifted. The traditional sport, which was usually conducted as part of the Pune festival during Ganesh Chaturthi, was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014.

While its cattle sports that are the centre of attention in TN, Karnataka and Maharashtra, it is the bulbul fight that the people of Assam are agitating for. Bulbul or nightingale fights were traditionally organised as part of the Bhogali Bihu celebrations.

(With inputs from PTI and The News Minute)