Bangalore, Jan. 25: Karnataka might go the Tamil Nadu way and bring an ordinance to allow Kambala, spurred by a consensus among all parties and the threat of an agitation by local groups.
Chief minister P.C. Siddaramaiah said the government was waiting for a January 30 hearing in the high court, which had in November 2016 stayed the races. "We are with the people. We will discuss the matter in the Assembly session (beginning February 6) and, if needed, bring an ordinance," Siddaramaiah said yesterday, asked how his government would overcome the legal hurdle.
The kambala stay had followed allegations of animal cruelty in a petition filed by Peta - the same group whose plea had led to a legal bar on jallikattu in neighbouring Tamil Nadu until the state brought an ordinance last week to allow the bull-taming sport.
In Karnataka, a senior official confirmed the government was in touch with legal experts. Boosted by the jallikattu ordinance, some organisers of kambala - a popular folk sport in the southern districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi - have lined up protests and races near Mangalore on January 28.
The Siddaramaiah government is counting on the support of the Centre after Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad promised help. "The Centre respects traditional events like kambala. We will respond promptly if the Karnataka government takes steps like Tamil Nadu," Prasad said on the sidelines of an event in Mangalore yesterday.
Boosted by the minister's statement, the government is considering all possibilities. "We will not do anything that would lead to a contempt of the court. But we are seeking legal opinion on the way forward," said the official.
He sought to make a distinction between jallikattu and kambala, which he stressed was only a race in slush tracks. "In jallikattu, the bulls are tamed by strangers while kambala jockeys are known to the animals, which are nurtured and trained by them," the official said.
Some kambala organisers plan to seek a hearing before the January 30 date set by the high court. "We tried filing the plea (today) but could not as the chief justice (in whose court the original case is pending) was on leave. We hope to file it on Friday (January 27) and get some relief," Ashok Rai, president of the Mangalore Kambala Committee, said.
If a court reprieve is not available by Friday, the organisers of the January 28 events suggested they would back off. "We would then make the buffaloes walk (and not run) as we don't want to defy the court order. But we hope our plea gets accepted on Friday and some relief comes our way," Rai said.
Kannada stars have expressed support. "It's time for us to protect our folk sports, like Tamil Nadu has done," said veteran comedian Jaggesh.
Rakshit Shetty, an actor from the kambala hub of southern Karnataka, tweeted that there was no cruelty as the buffaloes are treated with love and affection. "They are cherished and nourished, like we do for our own children."