Andhra Pradesh: Politicians for ordinance to allow cockfights

Rajahmundry: Taking a cue from Tamil Nadu which promulgated an ordinance to provide legal protection for conducting the popular bull fight or bull taming event called ‘Jallikattu’ despite the ban imposed by the Supreme Court, AP politicos are making efforts to prevail upon the state government to issue an ordinance to allow cockfights during the three days of Sankranti festival. According to the loyalists, people would enjoy the age-old tradition with their family and friends.

With Sankranti round the corner, tension is building amongst the political leaders as a large number of their supporters, farmers and many others approach them to persuade the state government to allow cockfights without imposing any restrictions. As a majority of the political leaders are either directly or indirectly involved in organising the cockfights, it becomes a prestige issue for them to ensure that the “tradition” is maintained. In fact, at the time of elections, the politicians promise the voters that they will ensure that cockfights are allowed during their five-year tenure.

Last year, the Hyderabad High Court issued as many as eight directives imposing a ban on the conducting of cockfights with or without knives tied to their talons. However, the Supreme Court had stayed one of the directives dealing with seizure of the fighting roosters by the civilians who are the members of the committees formed at the directive of HC, to keep a check on conduct of cockfights. 

The apex court issued a stay order on the directive based on a petition filed last year by BJP leader from West Godavari Kanumuri Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju. Political leaders cutting across party lines are of the same opinion that cockfights should be allowed at any cost especially during the Sankranti festival and the fighting roosters should have double-edged sharp knives attached to their talons as it thrills the spectators and the fight then lasts for just a few minutes. 

In case of no knives attached to the roosters, the fight between them continues for a long time. Neither of the roosters gets killed. The fight ends only when one of them gets exhausted and gives up the fight. The spectators have to wait for a long time in this kind of a fight and this does not appeal to them. 

The leaders are asking as to why curbs are being imposed on conducting cockfights when several state governments are allowing horse racing with legal betting in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and other places by collecting 28 per cent GST. They have even advised the state government to legalise the cockfights in AP and allow legal betting and impose relevant taxes so that it helps the state exchequer to earn revenue instead of creating a series of hurdles.

Police keeps vigil to avoid cockfights

The police have initiated a series of steps to restrain cockfights especially those involving knives that subject the birds to cruelty. They are also taking steps to curb activities like gambling, Gundata and other anti-social activities in West Godavari which is the nerve centre for cockfights during the Sankranti festival.

The police have booked as many as 100 cases involving cockfights this season and are equally firm about nabbing offenders who organise the fights with knives tied on the roosters. Special teams are formed to keep a close vigil on those who are organizing cockfights. Houses of those who are making knives are raided and the knives are seized. 

The teams are also keeping a close vigil in village outskirts where the organisers conduct cockfights by arranging huge pandals and flood lights. The police have booked as many as 70 cases involving cockfights with roosters tied with knives to their talons and seized the knives at several places in West Godavari in the last few days.