Term jallikattu as bio-cultural sport: Biodiversity Conservation Council of India
The sport which preserves the local breeds can be amended by inserting a clause terming it as bio-cultural sports,â€suggested the members.
Chennai: Blaming animal welfare board of India (AWBI) for its intolerance against jallikattu and other cultural sports, members of Biodiversity Conservation Council of India on Tuesday urged the Union government to introduce a non obstante clause in Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to avoid legal hassles.
Stating that the practice of jallikattu is necessary to preserve the bull breeds, chairman of biodiversity conservation council of India, Srinivas Ratnasami said, “Farmer community and livestock keeper has no representation in AWBI, leading to a disconnect and contempt to rural life pattern. Their interests and ethics are not considered,”
“Bulls that won jallikattu are considered the best males for breeding. The sport which preserves the local breeds can be amended by inserting a clause terming it as bio-cultural sports,” suggested the members.
“Any law or notification prohibiting bulls in jallikattu will not be valid after the making it a non obstante clause,” explained Srinivas Ratnasami. Managing trustee of biodiversity conservation council of India, Karthikeya Sivasenathypathy said that Jallikattu is a prominent way to preserve cattle species. “Since generations, our family has been preserving the Kangeyam cattle, one of the magnificient cattle breed in Tamil Nadu. Jallikattu's inscriptions which can be found in Indus Valley civilization is no cruelty towards animals,” said Karthikeya Sivasenathypathy.