Kambala: February session to see legislation on popular sport

Bengaluru: Dropping the idea of promulgating an ordinance, the state government is planning to bring a legislation to give legal status to 'Kambala', a popular rural sport in the coastal districts of Karnataka, in the coming session of the Legislature which starts on February 6, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra.

After a meeting of senior officials of the departments of animal husbandry and law here on Wednesday, the minister said the government feels no need to bring an ordinance since both Houses of the Legislature would be meeting from February 6. Instead, it had been decided to bring legislation by amending the existing Act. The Department of Animal Husbandry had been asked to prepare a draft and forward it to the law department to vet it.

Mr Jayachandra said in Kambala, buffaloes are not tortured. Besides, the sport had social and religious sentiments attached to it. Previously, the government had given permission for Kambala on the condition that buffaloes would not be tortured. The purpose of bringing a legislation was primarily to give the sport legal status. There are also suggestions to bring even the cart race under the ambit of the proposed legislation. " The proposed draft will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting", he added.

The meeting was attended by Mr Shekaran, commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Mr Srinivasaiah, Commissioner, Department of Law. It was called hurriedly following a clamour for reviving the sport across the state. While some have launched an online petition in support of the sport, others have planned a big rally in Bengaluru on January 28 to pressurise the state government to take steps to continue Kambala in the coastal region.

BJP: We should allow Kambala 
With growing clamour for allowing the traditional buffalo race Kambala, BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa today asked the Siddaramaiah government to bring in an Ordinance to facilitate holding of the event, saying the people are "emotionally" attached to it. "Kambala is a must and should be held. The government should bring an ordinance on it and pave the way to hold the  traditional sport in the coastal region," Yeddyurappa said.