No more bullfights in Goa, if Maneka Gandhi has her way

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Maneka Gandhi's pro-animal movement may get a boost if the Supreme Court upholds the Bombay high court order and bans traditional bullfights, or dhirios, in Goa. The landmark judgment, delivered by the Panaji bench of the Bombay high court, has not only banned Goa's most popular bullfight 'but all other fights of like nature involving animals, including birds, which can cause them injury.'

The high court also issued a stay on dhirio after it admitted the petition filed by People for Animals. Consequently, owners of fighter bulls are facing a financial crisis caused by the resultant 'dry season'. They have, under the umbrella of the All Goa Bull and Buffalo Owners Association, challenged the judgment which, if confirmed by the apex court, will directly affect all animal fights, cart races and cock fights in the country.

"The high court understood our plea in spirit," says Norma Alvares, the lawyer-activist for PFA. "Let the 21st century begin by liberating animals from human exploitation. After all, the 19th century put an end to the slavery and the 20th century began the process of women's emancipation."

"This is conviction-without-trial," fumes defence lawyer Anacleto Viegas. The defence argues that dhirio is a traditional sport, in which participants only push, and don't kill, each other. They want the apex court to set regulatory norms for the 'sport', while seeking the inclusion of dhirio under those sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act which pertain to performing animals.

Dhirio, a major tourist attraction, is popular in over a hundred villages spread along the Goan coastline and in major towns like Panaji, Margao and Mapusa. What started of as a local sport slowly became commercial. The underworld combined it with godgodo, a popular form of gambling, after putting the police on their payroll.

Today, there are over 2,000 bull owners who each spend between Rs 50,000 to Rs 100,000 annually to train their animals for the fights. A crowd of 4,000 pays around Rs 40 each to watch the show, which is held every weekend. While fighter bulls earn between Rs 3,000 to Rs 70,000, hundreds of thousands of rupees also change hands through betting and gambling.

This came to an end when the high court stayed dhirio. The immediate cause was the death of a person at a show on September 17, when a bull pushed through the crowd. Mahatma Gandhi too came to the PFA's rescue when the organisers made the mistake of organising the season's mega-event on October 2.

There were fresh attempts made to organise dhirio on Christmas and New Year's day, even after the high court judgment on December 20, but the police would not allow it.

"We do respect the judiciary, but they have ruined our lives. How will we live now? What will our bulls do?" asks Simon Caido, president, AGBBOA.

"I do sympathise with the agony the owners are going through. But one has to sacrifice if animal rights have to be preserved," says Alvares. She blames the state authorities who did not bother to take steps to phase out the illegal sport, despite it being brought to their notice by PFA leader Maneka Gandhi a year ago.

The bull owners also attempted to get the act amended by pressurising local politicians, including federal Law Minister Ramakant Khalap and South Goa MP Churchill Alemao, who owns a champion bull. But, though the politicians expressed concern, they preferred to let the central act be amended through the state assembly.