NT NETWORK
PANAJI
More than 97 per cent of Goans, who wrote to the House committee on bullfights or ‘dhirio’ have recommended that bullfights be legalised in the state.
After chairing the first meeting of the House committee on ‘dhirio’ under his chairmanship, Velim MLA Benjamin Silva said that over 97 per cent of the people have expressed support for the sport.
“There are 498 letters received from Goans that have said that ‘dhirio’ should be started in the state and only 12 or 13 letters have written against the bullfights,” he said.
Deputy Speaker of the Goa Assembly Vishnu Wagh, who was invited as a special invitee for the meeting, said that the majority of the letters received were from people of different states and followed a pattern. “There were more than 4,000 letters received by the committee but majority of the letters were from people of other states. The committee has decided not to take these recommendations into consideration,” he added.
He said that videos would be sought of bullfight events organised in Dubai and China. “These places have been organising the sport without harming the animals and without blood. So we will also see how they have been doing it. Since it is not possible to go now, we will ask for the videos of the events,” he said.
Wagh further said that the committee has decided to invite suggestions and recommendations from farmers, who have been rearing the bulls, to receive information on the maintenance and upkeep of the cattle. Veterinary doctors from the animal husbandry department will also be consulted, he said.
He said that the law department would be consulted to know if the bullfight sport could be started with the current laws and recommendations will be sought for the changes needed in the laws to start the sport.
The House committee on ‘dhirio’ met on Friday at the assembly complex and the meeting was attended by Benaulim MLA Caetano Silva and Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral. Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco and Thivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar were not present for the meeting.
