Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 23: State BJP president and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday January 23 came out in strong support of the traditional sport of Kambala and expressed hopes that the high court decision would be favourable.
Addressing a press meet at the BJP district office here, Yeddyurappa said, "Kambala is a sport that has a vast history of 1,000 years. It has a deeply-rooted cultural background and people are emotionally attached to the sport.
"After the ban on Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, there was ban on and opposition to Kambala as well. The high court hearing on Kambala will be held on January 30. I hope the high court will give a favourable decision on January 30. The state government needs to pressurize the centre to ensure smooth continuation of the sport," he said.
"I am confident that the high court verdict will be in favour of holding Kambala. there is no need for the people to carry out any agitation or protests seeking permission to hold Kambala. I am sure that the ban on Kambala will be lifted before the people resort to protests.
"This issue was discussed at the state executive of the BJP, and union ministers have been apprised about the unique features of Kambala and that so far no tragedies or major accidents have happened on account of Kambala. I am aware that owners of buffaloes take care of their prized possessions like their own children and this fact has been brought to the notice of the concerned," he explained.
Yeddyurappa disagreed with the notion that he has been acting in an autocratic manner and is taking one-sided decisions without consulting other leaders. "I have brought all the issues within the state BJP to the notice of party's national general secretary. The high command will take a decision on internal differences of the party. I will never hold discussions about this issue at any of the public forums," he stressed.
About the current situation in Dakshina Kanada, he noted that law and order situation has vitiated, murders are happening frequently, and because of the failure of the state government, people in this district are scary of moving around in public places.
"Dakshina Kannada is turning out to be sensitive place in thee recent past due to the series of attacks. So far the police have failed to arrest the culprits. They seem to be favouring the culprits.
"In the forthcoming assembly session, we will raise our voice against the inability of the police in solving the cases. We will also said the issue of drought in the state.
On the Thumbay vented dam, he said, "The court has to stand in favour of farmers and resurvey has to be done to avoid further problems for the farmers."
Remarking on the MRPL land acquisition issue, he said, "MRPL has no right to aquire land forcibly from the farmers. They should review the pros and cons from the farmers' point of view and ensure compensation for them before initiating the work."
"It was the state government's duty to visit drought-hit areas and review the condition of the farmers, but the government has failed to do so. BJP took up the initiative to visit all drought-hit areas by forming 11 teams after which we submitted the report. Soon after the assembly session, we are planning to visit the drought-hit areas for the second time and review the condition.
"BJP has also appealed to the government to hike import tariff rates from Rs 180 to Rs 250 so that it would help arecanut growers. The government has also sanctioned Rs 163 crore for the purchase of arecanut," he said.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, BJP district president Sanjeeva Matandoor and others were present.