No bullock cart races at Kila Raipur games - Organisers to file review petition
Friday, 09/05/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140509/punjab.htm#3
Ludhiana : With the apex court banning bullock cart races, that have been the main attraction at the Kila Raipur rural games, Jagdeep Grewal, executive member of the Grewal Association, Kila Raipur, has decided to call an emergency meeting.
“We will file a review petition. The bullock cart races are the essence of the Kila Raipur fest. We have been following all rules and taking care of the animals,” said Grewal.
Bull breeders say the ban will cause them a huge financial loss. Jagdeep Grewal said the price of a racing oxen varied between Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh. “We look after them (oxen) well. Their diet includes milk, desi ghee, jaggery and fodder. During the races, the expense incurred on the diet rises to more than Rs 20,000 a month. The racing oxen undergo heath checkup. The oxen are no longer used for farming and the ban on racing will result in these animals being abandoned," said Jagga Singh.
He demanded that horse races too should be banned. Davinder Singh of Sahnewal said: “I am the fourth generation of bullock cart jockeys. It is sad to see the demise of the race.” In 2012, a notification by the Ministry of Environment and Forest had banned the use of bulls in cart races.
