MANGALURU: To press for removal of curbs on Kambala, about 50,000 people are expected to gather at a protest meeting to be held at Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri near here on January 28 along with about 250 pairs of buffaloes.
A preliminary meeting held on Sunday at Moodbidri saw about 500 people representing farmers, buffalo owners, Kambala enthusiasts and jockeys taking part.
“Our stir will be peaceful and for only one day. We will demand removal of the ban on Kambala,” said Gunapal Kadamba, a senior member of the Dakshina Kannada-Udupi Kambla organising committee.
Speaking to Express, Kadamba said the protest rally will begin at Swaraj Maidan and culminate
at Kadalakere which has a double-track Kambla racing site.
Samithi president Barkuru Shantarama Shetty said, “We will try to get people from different spheres and give a united call to the government to lift the ban.”
One of the organisers said they are also exploring the option of filing a special writ petition in the court and seek a stay on the ban.
“The experts’ report on Kambala was clear that the anatomy of buffaloes was fit for using them for such races without abusing the animal,” said Kadamba.
Hashtags like #Kambala, #WeNeedKambala and #JusticeForKambala were widely used on Sunday. BJP leaders B S Yeddyurappa, C T Ravi and Aravind Limbavali also tweeted in support.