MUMBAI: In a bid to re-start the popular sport of bullock cart racing, the Maharashtra government may soon legalise it on the lines of Jalikattu in Tamilnadu.
Animal husbandry minister Mahadeo Jankar told The New Indian Express on Friday that the state cabinet has entrusted him with the responsibility of studying the draft bill to enable restarting the popular sport.
The State cabinet presided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took the decision to form a cabinet sub-committee under Mahadeo Jankar on Thursday. Jankar said that his efforts would be to table the bill in the ongoing assembly session.
Based on a notification dated July 11, 2011, bulls were included in category of animals that could not be exhibited or trained for exhibition as performing animals. Upholding the same notification, a Supreme Court bench on May 7, 2014 barred bulls from being used for Jallikattu or bullock cart racing.
Shiv Sena MP from Shirpur in Pune, Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, had been pushing for lifting the bullock cart racing ban after the Union government brought ordinance to permit Jalikutti in January this year.
While speaking to The New Indian Express, Patil welcomed the State government’s initiative. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has already drafted rules and regulations for the sport. So, the task for Maharashtra government is easy, Patil said.