Kambala: animal rights falls by the wayside

The Kambala verdict is sub judice right now, which means that not much can be said in that regard. But during the Jallikattu episode, AWBI had appealed to the Tamil Nadu govt on the basis of the Prevention of Cruelty Act.

But the court of last resort is not the Supreme Court, but the people. If they want something, the Legislature will eventually comply. The protests in Tamil Nadu represented a shrill vocal minority, and did not reflect the general sentiment at all. The Cauvery issue was a dangerous precedent, when the Karnataka government did not comply and the Supreme Court was silent. The people of Tamil Nadu felt betrayed and the Jallikattu became an issue of ‘Tamil pride’. Tamil parties too took to this line of thought. Section 11 of the PCA Act states that it is an offense to overdrive animals. If whipping buffaloes to a frenzy from the start of the race to finish is not cruelty, then I do not know what is. This is a mindset that needs to change. There are so many alternative ways to entertain oneself; animal torture should not be one of them.
—Chinny Krishna, Vice Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India

Kambala is a sport where male buffaloes are forced to run through muddy water channels.The Supreme Court has already established that buffaloes are not meant for such passtimes. In 2014, People for the Ethical Treament of Animals along with the AWBI complained to the Karnataka government about the illegal nature of the sport. A single bench conditionally allowed the sport saying that no studies had been done to prove that Kambala was harmful to animals. The AWBI proceeded to conduct inspections and found that cruelty is inherent. The buffaloes are beaten and intimidated, with sometimes two or three ropes tied into their nostrils to control them. They are inadvertently injured at the end of the race. About 65 non-cognizable cases were launched against the organisers by AWBI as well as an FIR.Section 3 and 11 of the PCA states that it is the responsibility of the owner to prevent unnecessary suffering to animals. Photos and videos of the sport has shown that Kambala is inherently cruel, and thus illegal. The Constitution calls for compassion towards animals and the statutory law demands it.

Tradition should move with the times, we should educate ourselves and move on. One can only hope the SC will revisit these Bills.
—Dr Manilal Valliyate,
Director, Veterinary affairs, PETA

It seems, today, that if adequate numbers of people want something to be done, even at conflict with the law of the land, then it is possible. This dangerous message is percolating deep and with it goes the glamour and power of mob response making a mockery of Constitutional law and inbuilt protections for the weaker members of society be it women, children or animals. It is a dangerous trend and needs to be seen how much more the political circles will bend to accommodate the whims of the masses, even though the same may be an illegal, unethical or irrational demand. Society must stand strong and support the laws of the land. If animal cruelty is linked to electoral popularity, then India will become a dangerous place for women, children and voiceless animals. It is amazing to see how social media brainwashed public rooting for a blood sport like Jallikattu. It is a most bizarre activity that does not qualify as a ‘sport’! Sport happens between well balanced teams in equal competition: not brutalizing an animal to make it ferocious out of fear and pain.
—Suparna Ganguly, Co-founder trustee, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action

—As told to Dipshikha Ghosh