Round The States

New Delhi, 16 January 2016

Jallikattu or Cock, Dog Fights

A TOSS BETWEEN TRADITION & CRUELTY

By Insaf

The eagerly awaited cruel jallikattu sport played during Pongal in Tamil Nadu has been red flagged by the Supreme Court. Recall, the Central Government had taken out a notification allowing bull taming and bullock cart racing last week, five years after it had been banned in 2011 on the grounds that the game was cold-blooded. In fact, bulls are bred for this spectacle and are given alcohol to make them disoriented and their tails twisted. Resulting in the animals being stabbed, punched or jumped on by players who try to tame the terrified bulls, never mind some die of fear. Predictably, it has resulted widespread protest particularly in the rural areas where people look forward to this sport. Indeed, it seems with State Assembly elections due later this year, Jayalalitha’s AIADMK Government had hoped to score electoral points by reviving this popular though brutal game by  claiming that the were never injured or harmed in any way. With the Court now paying put to her plans the Chief Minister has now petitioned Prime Minister Modi to come out with an Ordinance to revoke the judicial order. Will the Prime Minister oblige her? A vexatious toss between tradition and cruelty!

On the flip side in salubrious Goa. Jallikattu or Dhirio banned since 1996 continues to be played, albeit secretly. Fights are held in villages with text messages with time and venue to gather thousands. Bulls are made to battle until one drops or flees. Scandalously, there are no barricades and spectators are known to get hurt. This is not all. In Bengal, Orissa, Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab the favourite blood sport is a cock fight, between two roosters.  And Delhi-NCR and Haryana enjoy their dog fights by using aggressive “bully kuttas” or Indian Alangu Mastiffs, who are made to fight bloody duels. Undoubtedly chief thrills!

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Muslims Angry In UP

The Akhilesh Yadav Government in Ulta Pulta UP has earned the ire of the Muslims. In its quest to popularise the Urdu language, the State Government issued a circular for appointment of 3500 Urdu teachers. But the minority community’s joy was short-lived as the State administration added two riders: One, any one having two wives, both living, would not be eligible for the post. Two, female candidates who are married to a man with two wives would also be disqualified. Complicating matters, Government officials underscored that the order would also extend to those aspiring to teach in Government schools. Another caveat appended was to avoid confusion on who was entitled to the widow or widowers pension. Predictably, this has raised the hackles of the Muslim Law Board which angrily tom toms it is a violation of the rights of the minority community as Islam allows four marriages. The ball is now in 'Mullah' Yadav’s court.

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Delhites Rue Another Tax

Barely have the denizens of Union Capital Delhi recovered from the odd-even car formula to curtail air pollution, that they have been hit by another blow. Already, over burdened with innumerable taxes, one of the three municipal corporations (South) in the Capital city is planning to levy a “professional tax” on residents living under its jurisdiction. Under this proposal, chartered accountants, lawyers, doctors, architects, engineers, businessmen and property brokers would come under its ambit. The tax would be topped at a limit of Rs.2500 annually earning the Corporation Rs.50 crores. No matter, the other two city corporations have negated this levy. In its defence, Delhi administrators profess they are only following Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu etc. Raising a moot point: Is Rs.50 crores a large amount to earn the ire of the citizens?

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Malda Fire Continues to Burn

West Bengal has earned the ignominy of being the new hot bed of communalism. Last week, Malda was up in flames following violence between Hindu and Muslims. It all started reportedly when the minority community accused an Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha leader for making a hate speech resulting in an agitated mob setting fire to a police station. Notwithstanding, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attempt at dousing the conflagration by reiterating that the flare-up was not communal but a dispute between BSF personnel and local residents. The BJP on the other hand, accused Banerjee of pursuing vote bank politics. Making matter worse, the district administration prevented a six-member fact finding team comprising five BJP and one CPM MPs from entering Malda. Resulting in a slug fest between the Trinamool and BJP with both accusing each other of polarising voters before Assembly elections next year. What next?

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Lalu Bihar’s Super CM?

In Bihar, irrepressible RJD Chief Lalu Yadav is at his infamous best again, albeit by playing proxy for elder son Health Minister Tej Pratap. Days after he stoked controversy with his surprise inspection of Patna’s Institute of Medical Sciences and pulled up doctors for dereliction of duty, he repeated his feat by ordering the Darbhanga district civil surgeon to reinstate Mamata workers whose services had been discontinued by the State Health Department recently. Leading to the Opposition BJP charging him with him acting as a ‘Super Chief Minister’. But a nonchalant Lalu asserts that he was only carrying out his duty to boost health facilities in the State. Should one blame for RJD Chief's penchant for ‘social service’ or call it putra moh?

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Doors of Kerala Temple Opened To Women

The famous Sabarimala temple in Kerala is all set to welcome women. In a landmark judgment the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the practice of prohibiting the fairer sex from entering temples, on the ground of religion Wednesday last. A three-judge bench cited the Fundamental Rights, contending the Constitution bars discrimination on the basis of sex. Barely had the ink dried, that another first ‘fair’ feat was established with the appointment of a 40-year old housewife as the first women chairperson of the over five centuries old renowned Shani Shinganapur temple in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Notwithstanding, the new Chairperson made plain she would uphold the tradition of disallowing women from pouring oil on God’s Shani’s idol on a platform in the temple. One wins some and loses some! ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)