Kambala bill in legislature after SC verdict, Jan 30, MLC D’Souza

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 27, 2017: Addressing media at his office in Mangaluru City Corporation on Jan 26, Thursday, Chief Whip of the state government in Legislative Council, MLC Ivan D’Souza said the government will pass a bill towards excluding Kambala from the list of violent sports, after looking into the Supreme Court verdict on January 30.

He said the traditional sport is also in the concurrent list of the Central government which includes the acts to be subjected to amendment. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Law Minister T B Jayachandra have assured of passing the bill in the forthcoming legislature session starting from February 6. The bill is expected to be tabled on February 7. The government supports kambala, he added.

Yettinahole  issue : Responding to a query, he said the government did not avoid discussions on Yettinahole project. During a meeting chaired by the chief minister at his residence in Bengaluru, the government officials presented the correct data on the project. But the Yettinahole activists were not ready to accept it. Why not the opposition pass a privilege motion in the Legislative Assembly against the project ? he questioned.

He reiterated the government’s opinion on the project saying that district will not be affected by the project. The chief minister has said that the government will implement Paschima Vahini project, he added.  He criticised  M P Nalin Kumar Kateel’s protest as one-sided as BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa himself is in support of Yettinahole project. As a matter of fact, the project was proposed by the BJP itself, he added. Ten people, suffering from various diseases, were distributed of a total of Rs 7,55,166 from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Election observer  : Meanwhile, MLC D’Souza has been appointed as the AICC election observer for Goa by AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi. He will be in charge till February 2, according to media information.

Kambala protests :  Artistes from Tulu film industry, Tulu theatre and Yakshagana have extended support to the protests against the ban on Kambala.

Addressing media on Jan 26, Thursday, Tulu theatre person and film producer Vijay Kumar Kodialbail said the artistes from film industry and theatre will take part in the formation of human chain at Hampankatta signal on January 27 and also in the protests to be held at Swaraj Maidan, Moodbidri. Around 1,500 artistes and 20 drama troupes are expected to take part.

He said that Jallikattu and Kambala cannot be compared. There are no examples of people or animals dying during Kambala. Actors from Kannada film industry such as Shivarajkumar, Jaggesh, Yash and others have spoken in favour of the traditional sport, he added.