BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, BJP MP Sadananda Gowda and actor Shivarajkumar came out in support of 'Kambala' bullock race held in Dakshina Kannada here on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said that the State government was in favour of Kambala. "The Centre should extend its support to Kambala in a manner it has backed Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu," he said on the sidelines of the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose birth anniversary celebrations.
At a separate event, Union Minister of statistics and programme implementation D V Sadananda Gowda said that it was not appropriate to intervene now as the matter was in the court.
It can be recalled that the State High Court had granted an interim stay in November 2016 against holding any Kambala events during the current season.
Gowda said that he would speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue.
Extending his support for Kambala, he said that there no animal violence in Kambala. It should remain as a cultural event, he added.
At an event organised by the Transport Department on road safety, actor Shivarajkumar said that people from across the State should bat for Kambala. "We should unite like the people of Tamil Nadu," he added.
On Sunday, the State unit of BJP extended its support for the event, after BJP leaders tweeted in favour of the event.
Protest held
Meanwhile, a protest was held at Mysore Bank Circle in the city by activists of various organisations demanding lifting the ban against Kambala.