Elephant Polo in Rajasthan : Supreme Court lawyer clarifies position

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Today I had a meeting with Mr Raj Panjwani, the Supreme Court

lawyer who is fighting the elephant polo case in Jaipur. I asked him about

the current status of the case and also if it is true that the Rajasthan

Elephant Festival was held this year without the elephant polo event. I

asked him if he would be willing to go on record regarding this and he

replied in the affirmative. So here goes.

 

 

According to Mr Panjwani, the Rajasthan government did indeed submit a

written statement saying that they were neither organizing nor holding

elephant polo, elephant tug of war or elephant races as part of the Elephant

Festival this year. This was in response to the legal notice that was served

to them. Mr Panjwani said the next hearing in the case is coming up on 6th

April, 2009. Also, that elephants without valid licences would not be

allowed to take part in the festival.

 

 

This would confirm the assertion that indeed the elephant polo event was

taken off the list of entertainment events in Rajasthan this year.

Commendable and laudatory as all this is, there is one more step to seal the

claim of the Rajasthan government. Some independent observers should

henceforth attend the Elephant Festival(if they have not already), take

extensive notes on all aspects of involvement of the elephants participating

and videotape the entire festival. Then if it is proved beyond a shadow of a

doubt that there was no elephant polo held, it will be certified that the

Rajasthan government's claim was authentic and that they are serious about

banning the sport.

 

 

Also, if there is a positive court order against the Elephant Festival

itself, that would be a huge step forward. The modalities and practicalities

of what to do with the remaining elephants in Jaipur could then fruitfully

be opened for discussion. Right now, the law must take its own course.

 

 

But we have come a long, long way since that first news item on elephant

polo was first posted on AAPN in October, 2006. We have proved that we are a

force to be reckoned with and we are capable of standing our ground in the

face of heavy monies and royal support. A few more steps and we will finally

be there. But we are well on our way, it feels great.

 

 

Thank you very much Mr Raj Panjwani for sharing your thoughts, it was a

pleasure meeting you and good luck to you on the 6th of April, 2009. The

elephants will need you.

 

 

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

Hopefully,