Summary:
CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA: The Punjab cabinet, led by Captain Amarinder Singh, on Sunday paved the way for revival of traditional annual bullock cart races in the Kila Raipur rural games in the state’s Ludhiana district. The immensely popular games, which started in the 1930s, will be held in February-end.Bullock cart races, according to a Punjab spokesperson, have been an integral part of the state’s rich cultural legacy and heritage. The bullock cart races were banned by the Supreme Court in 2014.The cabinet gave a green signal to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2019 that will be tabled in the ongoing Budget Session of Vidhan Sabha. The Punjab bill will amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (Central Act 59 of 1960). The Punjab amendment will exempt bullock cart racing in the annual Kila Raipur rural games from the provisions of the central law.After various representations to allow reintroduction of bullock cart racing were sent to the Punjab governor, the chief minister and the animal husbandry minister, the cabinet in October last year had detailed deliberations and opted to legally allow Kila Raipur games, in which various animals also participate.The Kila Raipur games promote the spirit of games and sports, the spokesperson added..