People of DK should Unite for ‘Hakkotaya’ to Retain Kambala – MP Nalin
Mangaluru: “Kambala is a traditional buffalo race and has more than 1000 years of history. The people of Dakshina Kannada should unite forgetting caste, creed and politics to retain the Kambala. There is a connection between the religious feelings and the traditional sports Kambala. On January 28, various Kambala committees have organized “Hakkotaya” a protest against the ban on Kambala at Moodbidri. People from DK as well as politicians from all political parties should take part in the protest for its success”, said, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel in an interaction meeting on Kambala held at Hotel BMS, Kuntikan, here on January 24.
Speaking on the occasion MP Nalin said, “After the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) submitted a petition to the Supreme court to ban Jallikattu and Kambala, the traditional sport of Coastal Karnataka was banned. The PETA compared Jallikattu with Kambala which was banned in Tamilnadu. Kambala is a traditional sport of Dakshina Kannada and the buffaloes are being taken good care by its owners. There is no cruelty against Buffaloes during Kambala. On January 28, a procession will be held at 9:00 am, which will start from the Swaraj Maidan, Moodbidri and culminate at the Kadalakere Nisargadhama. More than 200 pairs of Buffaloes will be taken in a procession”.
MP further said, “People of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod will be taking part in the protest. If we need to retain our traditional sports Kambala we have to show our strength by taking part in the protest. When Jallikattu was banned, the people of Tamilnadu including film stars and politicians got down to the streets, protested and succeeded. If we pressurize the government we will surely succeed in our fight. We need to bring awareness among the people about the ban on Kambala and take part in the protest to lift the ban. If we show our strength and solidarity the supreme court will surely lift the ban. On January 28, we need to be united at Moodbidri to show our strength by taking part in the protest. Our fight should continue till the Buffaloes run in the Kambala. This is not the fight of Dakshina Kannada alone, we have the support of the film stars from entire Karnataka. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has also extended his support towards the Kambala which we welcome. In the centre, I will convince the government to lift the ban on Kambala.”
Nalin also thanked the media for highlighting the issue and making it a national news.
Advocate Pavana Chandra Shetty also spoke on the occasion and said that on December 17, 2015, the department of Animal Husbandry granted permission to hold Kambala on certain conditions based on the report that there will be no cruelty or violence on animals during the Kambala. But the PETA has interlinked Kambala and Jallikattu and filed a petition to ban the Kambala. We need to fight our battle legally and we will surely get the green signal to hold the Kambala. Because of the misinterpretation by the PETA the court has imposed the ban on Kambala and Jallikattu. People of Tamil Nadu got into action and showed their solidarity in lifting the ban on Jallikattu. We too should be united in our fight against the ban and strengthen our case to lift the ban on Kambala.
Sri Sri Balikodi Sashikant Swamiji speaking on the occasion said, “Kambala is a traditional sport of Tulunadu, there is no cruelty towards the animals during the Kambala, buffaloes are treated in a special manner. We all should join hands to protest against the ban on Kambala and force the government to lift the ban.
Nagaraj Shetty, Vijay Kumar Kodialbail, Naveen D Padil, Ajith Kumar Rai, Pradeep Kumar Kalkura and others were also present.
The president of Kambala Committee Ashok Kumar Rai welcomed the gathering.
