Centre’s Jallikattu move finds an echo in Goa

Last year, Chief Minister Laxmikanth Parsekar said that owing to demands by locals and to increase tourism, the government had constituted a panel to prepare a report on Dhirio. He said the committee would focus on welfare of animals that participate in the competition. “Health and safety of animals will be of paramount concern. All measures for their safety will be taken so that it does not attract any penal provision under the existing law. But it is necessary to revive the sport given its popularity among locals and visitors,” the CM said.

But the panel may take time to come out with a report as the committee’s head, MLA Vishnu Wagh, will be elevated to the post of Deputy Speaker of the Goa assembly next week, following which he may have to relinquish his position as panel head.

Wagh said that since the committee was constituted recently, it has completed about 20 per cent of its work. “We have had discussions with stakeholders, including animal welfare groups as well as those interesting in conducting Dhirio. Now that the Centre has issued a notification, we will go through it. We hope that helps us make a concrete assessment,” Wagh said.

He added that following his elevation, the state government may either reconstitute the panel or appoint a new head. Originally, the committee was supposed to report its finding during the Goa’s budget session this year.

Meanwhile, Parsekar said his government has not referred the matter to the Centre. “As soon as the House committee submits its findings, we will be able to decide the next course of action,” he said.