(IN): Cruelty to animals (Assam Tribune EDITORIAL)

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Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jan2108\edit

 

 

MESSAGE FOR TODAY

Nowadays we don't think much of a man's love for an animal; we laugh at

people who are attached to cats. But if we stop loving animals aren't we

bound to stop loving humans too?

— ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN

 

*Cruelty to animals

 

*Animals, in India are worshipped as well as tortured. Cow is venerated and

its urine is supposed to purify and cure us of many diseases. In the other

extreme, animals are tortured in the name of sports and tradition. The

Jallikattu(taming of bulls) is one of such sports held during Pongal

festival in some parts of Tamil Nadu to bring good omen. During such sports

the bulls are given liquor to drink and eyes sprinkled with red chilli

powder to make the bulls ferocious. Some young men who participate in the

sport for valour or money, while trying to tame the animal are killed or

maimed for life. The sport is conducted in villages and draws huge crowds

and attracts foreign tourists. The Supreme Court termed the sport as

uncivilized event and barbaric and initially banned the sport, which was

welcomed by all the animal lovers in the country. But bowing to public

pressure the Tamil Nadu government moved the apex court to relax the ban and

assured that adequate preventive measures would be taken to prevent torture

to animals and injury to the participants. The Supreme Court also relented

and allowed conditional permission to hold the sport under government

supervision. Accordingly Jallikattu was held amidst tight security in

Madurai district and in spite of all precautions one person lost his life,83

persons were injured ,14 of them seriously.397 bulls participated and due to

massive deployment of police the whole sport turned out to be a police event

losing mass appeal. The apex court's concern for cruelty to animals and to

human beings had earlier prevented it from granting permission to hold the

sport and now after seeing the video of the last Jallikattu held under

government supervision, the court may again revise its decision. There are

similar sports held in Assam during Rongali Bihu where fight among animals

are arranged for enjoyment of the people at the cost of the

animals.Cockfights, bull fights, buffaloe fights arranged during Bihu

festivals are

instances of inflicting cruelty to animals and should be stopped. The

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. 1960 should be strictly enforced and

all kinds of cruelty to animals be stopped. Jallikattu has brought to

national attention the barbaric events held with animals in the name of

tradition and sports and now the time has come to discard these evil and

cruel practices.

 

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