Panaji, April 22 (Inditop) The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has criticised the legalising bullfighting in Goa.
In its petition to Goa Speaker Pratapsing Rane and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, PETA has said that the amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act “contravenes the very purpose and object of the PCA, which is to prevent the infliction of pain and suffering on animals”.
“Animals who are forced to fight often incur fatal injuries. Not only are these incidents illegal, they are also completely unforgiving and inhumane. These fights cause damage to the animals’ health and can result in accidents involving human spectators as well,” the petition signed by PETA’s chief functionary Anuradha Sawhney states.
The petition also states that the controversial amendment passed by the Goa legislative assembly during the last budget session encourages violation of the fundamental duty to have compassion towards all living creatures, as enshrined in 51(A)(G) of the the Constitution.
Sawhney has also ridiculed the attempts made by the bullfighting lobby in Goa to create a myth of tradition around the blood-sport.
“We beseech you to use your office to stop such unnecessary and cruel acts from taking place and to be the voice of the hundreds of animals who are forced into these fights in the name of tradition,” the petition states.
Legislator Reginaldo Lourenco of the ruling Congress party had introduced the private member’s bill in the legislative assembly in March. It was was passed with the support of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).