Karnataka’s Jallikattu: Assembly passes bill to legalise Kambala

The Karnataka Assembly has passed an amendment bill to legalise Kambala, the traditional bull-racing sport in the state.

The bill amended the provisions in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill, 1960, vis-a-vis Karnataka and the sport of Kambala.

The Siddaramaiah-led state government had tabled the bill in the Assembly on Friday.

On earlier occasions, the Opposition had vowed to support the Kambala Bill. “If they bring the Kambala Bill, we will definitely support it,” Jagadish Shettar, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, had said.

CLAMOUR FOR KAMBALA

The clamour for Kambala had intensified after neighbouring state Tamil Nadu passed a bill legalising Jallikattu, the bull-taming sport.

Several protests and processions were taken out with buffaloes to put pressure on the Karnataka government to move a similar ordinance.

The Karnataka High Court had stayed the conduct of Kambala in November 2016 on a petition filed by animal rights activists .

However, the government of Karnataka, not wanting a Marina beach-like situation in the state, immediately resolved to move an amendment in the forthcoming assembly session.

On January 30, the high court allowed the interim ban on the sport to stay and said it would wait for the Supreme Court’s verdict on Jallikattu before taking a decision on Kambala.