Madras High Court green signals Jallikattu ( Brutal Cattle Race )

January 14, 2007

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Jallikattu inhuman: Maneka

Chennai, Jan 10: Animal welfare activist and MP Maneka Gandhi on

Wednesday told reporters that the activists were concerned about the

judgment of the Madurai bench of the Madras high court on permitting

Jallikattu during the Pongal festival at different places in Madurai

district. She said the activists would appeal on the issue to a

higher bench. Ms Gandhi said she was sad the judge had not realised

the cruelty involved in the sport, maintaining that Jallikattu not

only hurt animals, but also people as every year about 30 were killed

during the game.

Earlier, at the fourth international " Asia for Animals " conference

held in the city, Ms. Gandhi called upon animal welfare NGOs in the

country to generate enough money to embark on more animal welfare

activities in the country. Delivering her keynote address she said

that lack of discipline, shortage of funds and long-term goals had

prevented the NGOs from taking up more animal welfare activities. Ms.

Gandhi urged the NGOs to declare 2007 as the year for mobilising

greater funds for the animal welfare movement and emphasised that the

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) should release more funds for

the NGOs and take necessary steps to ensure that cruelty against

animals ceased.

During the conference, bureaucrat Syed Munir Hoda and senior police

official Sylendra Babu were conferred with AFA awards for their

outstanding contribution to the animal welfare movement. About 300

delegates from over 30 countries attended the conference. The three-

day event organised by the Blue Cross of India has various sessions

including on animals in research, wildlife, captive animals, rescue

centre operations and role of government agencies.

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