Pune: Bullock cart owners today blocked the Pune-Nashik Highway near Chakan here and disrtupted normal traffic for hours demanding lifting of the ban on bullock cart races in Maharashtra.
They also sought a ban on the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an NGO which has been campaigning against such races, according to PTI.
The Bombay High Court on October 11 refused to lift its ban imposed on bullock cart races in Maharashtra. The order came ahead of Diwali festivities when bullock cart races are organised across the state.
"The Maharashtra government passed a bill to resume bullock cart races and the President of India, too, approved it. However, a petition was filed against the bill in the High Court and the court banned bullock cart races," said Ramkrushna Takalkar, an office-bearer of the All India Bullock Cart Owners' Association.
"Several cases have been registered against the PETA in other countries as they are involved in malpractices. We demand that government ban the PETA and initiate an inquiry against it," he said.
He said the state government should approach the Supreme Court and put forth their side strongly so that the ban on races is lifted.
The latest protests in Maharashtra came about ten months after protests were held in Tamil Nadu demanding lifting of ban on Jallikattu in January this year.
Jallikattu is conducted annually on the second day of the Tamil month Thai. The sport was banned by the Supreme Court in a decision citing cruelty to animals based on a lawsuit filed by the animal rights activists group. However, after the protest the state government granted permission for Jallikattu.
Interestingly, Maharashtra is among Indian states which have imposed a ban on slaughter of cow and its likes.
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