(IN): The Buffalo fight ban in Madhya Pradesh

[Guest guest]

* " In another directive, the Shivraj Singh Chauhan regime has also banned

" buffalo fights " , saying they are cruel to the animals, though some

residents insist they can't " abandon the age-old " post-Diwali tradition. " *

 

--

 

 

 

Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071113/asp/nation/story_8542060.asp

 

*Off with beards, BJP tells Bhopal prisoners*

RASHEED KIDWAI

 

*Bhopal, Nov. 12: *Make a clean chin of it, prisoners, your BJP rulers are

wary of any unnecessary hair.

 

And no skullcaps, please — they don't like them either.

 

BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh has banned prisoners from sporting beards and

wearing skullcaps because they make " identification " of criminals difficult.

 

The move has enraged both the Muslim and Hindu clergy, who are asking why

similar bans haven't been slapped on passport and driving-licence holders.

 

In another directive, the Shivraj Singh Chauhan regime has also banned

" buffalo fights " , saying they are cruel to the animals, though some

residents insist they can't " abandon the age-old " post-Diwali tradition.

 

But it's the ban on beards in jail that has angered many.

 

Muslim clerics in Bhopal mosques have slammed the move as a " humiliation "

for prisoners. In fact, the city is abuzz with rumours that beards of some

Muslim prisoners have been forcibly shaved.

 

Bhopal Central Jail superintendent P.D. Somkunwar confirmed that beards of a

few undertrials were shaved off after they were sent to the jail so that the

identity of these criminals could be tallied with pictures in police

records.

 

The state minorities commission headed by BJP leader Anwar Mohammad Khan,

however, said all those responsible for " discrimination " would be

" penalised " .

 

Anwar said the matter would be investigated for further action. " We will

send a team inside the jail to get a first-hand account and then act upon

it. "

 

City qazi Abdul Latif said the ban went against religious freedom. " It is

also against the established norms of civility and decency, " he said, adding

that a delegation of Muslims would call on governor Balram Jakhar to seek

redress.

 

A prominent citizen, Pandit Vinod Gautam, called the jail diktat erroneous.

He said according to Hindu shastras, even emperors and kings couldn't force

anyone to shave their beard. " This measure will have to be withdrawn, " he

added.

 

The Congress, the main opposition party, remained mum, but Samajwadi Party

leader Rajesh Chanal said he would launch a movement to protest against the

treatment meted out to prisoners in the Central Jail.

 

The ban on buffalo fights couldn't stop thousands from turning up at a local

ground in Kaetha village.

 

Shyam Lal Yadav, a resident, made light of the government order. " This is

part of our festivities and we enjoy it. Maybe it's wrong, but since it's an

age-old tradition, we can't abandon it, " he said.

 

Ujjain collector Shiv Shankar Shukla said such fights were illegal under the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

 

The fights, two days after Diwali, are held to mark Govardhan puja as a

tribute to Krishna.

 

According to legend, Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on this day. So people

make cow dung replicas of the fabled mound, decorate it with flower petals

and offer prayers.

 

In cities like Bhopal, Ujjain, Gwalior and Jabalpur, decked-up buffaloes,

with painted horns and feathers, are pitted against each other. The buffalo

that manages to send its rival out of a marked area is declared the winner

and its owner is given a cash prize, which ranges between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1

lakh.

 

Milk traders, who organise these fights, said the buffaloes are given rich

food, lots of butter, milk and sometimes alcohol to enrage them. They are

also fed dry fruits and nuts before they are led to the ring.

 

 

--

Fight captive Jumbo abuse, end Elephant Polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com