30 May,2009 07:39 AM IST | | Kranti Vibhute
Sena activists in Shirur held a bullock race to celebrate MP Shivajirao Patil's birthday; animal activists cry foul
In an attempt to throw a lavish birthday bash for their neta, Shiv Sena activists from Shirur, Pune district, seem to have toed the line.
A bullock cart race is what they thought would impress Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, sitting Member of Parliament (Shiv Sena) from Shirur on the eve of his 53rd birthday yesterday.
With Rs 20 lakh spent on the event and attractive gifts like tractors to motorbikes on offer, the Sainiks managed to lure as many as 1,200 farmers to make their bullocks run the race yesterday at Pimpalgaon, Khadki.
Annual affair
Interestingly, the bullock race is not the first-of-its kind, but an annual affair in Pimpalgaon.
"We have been organising this event for eight years on the eve of Patil's birthday and this year we have pumped in Rs 20 lakh to organise the race.
Once in a blue moon, bullocks get injured. In such situations, we compensate the owners," said Ramnath Bangar, a committee member from the bullock cart insurance firm that organised the race and an ardent Patil supporter.u00a0
Breaking the law
For Pimpalgaon, the race was a mega-event. With a large audience, the birthday celebrations couldn't have gotten bigger.u00a0u00a0u00a0
The race, according to the local police, had been conducted without seeking their permission. "We have not given the go-ahead for this race," said a local police officer, requesting anonymity.
S D Kokate, deputy superintendent of police, Pune rural, said that he was unaware of a bullock race being held in Pimpalgaon.
u00a0
"I will conduct an inquiry and if the Sena activists have violated the law, action will be taken," he added.
Exploitation of animals
Even animal welfare activists seem to be in the dark about exploitation of animals in Maharashtra.
According to D Rajasekar, secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India, the statutory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, those organising such races can be booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. (See box) "Making bullocks to run with or without cart amounts to exploitation.
We have banned such races in Goa and Kerela, but are unaware if such races are being held in Maharashtra," he said.
u00a0u00a0u00a0
No ban?
IPS officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh said, "Though such a race is not banned under law, action could be taken against the organisers and participants if it is proved that the organisers violated the section under the PCA."
Patil could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
Race for money?
The owners of bullocks participating in the race are given Rs 500. Those whose bullocks will come first in every race from 2008 to 2011 have been promised prize money of Rs 16,27,048.
u00a0
The winner of yesterday's race, Jaisingh Sher Maruti Erande, a farmer from Pimpalgaon, received Rs 1,78, 274, and the first runners up received Rs 1,11,000.
Consolation prizes included a tractor, motorcycles, refrigerators and television sets.u00a0u00a0u00a0
