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The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has slammed the Environment Ministry’s decision to permit events like jallikattu and bull races in the country.
The Centre did so through a notification on Thursday and PETA India Chief Executive Officer Poorva Joshipura has said they would continue the fight to protect bulls from cruelty in the Supreme Court.
PETA India has documented that during jallikattu, terrified bulls are often deliberately disoriented through substances like alcohol; have their tails twisted and bitten; are stabbed and jabbed by sickles, spears, knives or sticks; are punched, jumped on and dragged to the ground, a note from them said.
Joshipura said in a statement, “Our phones have been ringing off the hook this morning with calls from BJP supporters and others who are horrified that the same authorities who claim to care about cattle are now allowing the cruelty to cattle that was already banned by the highest court of India.”
The use of bulls in performances was earlier banned by the Environment Ministry in 2011 and the causing of suffering that is inherent in jallikattu, bull races and bull fights has been illegal since 1960 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. “This U-turn is being seen by many of the BJP’s own supporters as reckless, heartless, and weak. We vow to take our fight to protect bulls from cruelty back to the Supreme Court,” she said.
“Lifting the protection against cruelty that was afforded to bulls is a black mark on our nation, which has always been looked up to by people around the world for our cultural reverence for animals. Towns in Ecuador, Venezuela, France, Portugal and Colombia have declared themselves to be against bullfighting, and Catalonia, a region in Spain, has banned it. India will now be considered archaic and backward as sensibilities around the world are changing in favour of animal protection,” she cautioned.
During races, bulls are often hit with nail-studded sticks. In bullfights, the round ends when one of the bulls manages to flee (or is even killed), the note said.
In its judgement, the Supreme Court had held that the concerned Ministry cannot allow jallikattu, bull races or bullfights and cannot modify the notification dated 11 July 2011 (which banned forcing bulls to perform) without approval from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
Just last week, the AWBI advised the Ministry not to overturn the Supreme Court judgement. The court had also ruled that cruelty is inherent in these events, as bulls are not anatomically suited for such races. Making them participate is subjecting them to unnecessary pain and suffering, and so it was deemed such races are not permitted by law. It was further stated by the court that when culture and tradition are at variance with the law enacted by Parliament, the law will take precedence, the note said.
PETA India’s online petition that was urging the government to keep the ban on jallikattu, bull races and bullfights had been signed by nearly 60,000 people in India alone.
jyothi.datta@thehindu.co.in
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