Hundreds form human chain, seek lifting of ban on Kambala

Hundreds of students, artistes from the film industry and others staged a protest against the ban on Kambala in Mangaluru on Friday.

The protesters, who gathered at Hampankatta signal formed a human chain till the deputy commissioner’s office. Thousands of students displayed placards and shouted slogans such as ‘Down Down PETA,’ and ‘Pass Ordinance - Save Kambala.’

Stating that the Tulu culture is at stake, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said he is hopeful of a favourable verdict on Kambala in the court. The BJP lawmaker said the protest is not against anyone but to save Kambala.

Addressing the protestors, District Kambala Committee President Ashok Rai urged
the state government to pass an ordinance against the Kambala ban.

Film director and producer Devdas Kapikad said a wrong notion is being created by PETA that there is cruelty to animals in Kambala. In fact, the Kambala buffaloes are reared with great care.  Everyone must put up an united fight to save the traditional sport of the district, he added.

Buntara Yane Nadavara Matru Sangha president Ajit Kumar Rai Maladi said some people are biased againsst Kambala, even though there are there sports that are more violent than the Kambala.

Mangaluru North MLA B A  Mohiuddin Bava said, “We have to save Kambala. It is a landmark sport of Tulunadu and an indispensable part of the our culture, which we can not afford to lose.”

Film producer Navin D Padil, Sharada Education Institutions chairman Prof M B Puranik, Student Association leader Dinaker Shetty also addressed the gathering and made out a case for lifting the ban on Kambala. Zilla Panchayat vice president Kasturi Panja, District Jodukere Kambala Committee president Barkur Shantaram Shetty, Balekodi mutt seer Shashikanta Swamiji, actor Avinash and Satyajith Suratkal and Anil Lobo of Catholic Sabha were present.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru-based Rajadhani Kambala Kriyasheela Samithi and Tulukoota extended on Friday their support to the protests in coastal districts.

 Beloor Raghavendra Shetty of the Samithi said they will stage a protest march in Bengaluru on Sunday, with a pair of buffaloes. K Jayaram Sooda of Tulukoota, a 45-year-old organisation said his organisation will shortly organise a mega protest in Bengaluru if the ban is not lifted.

CM for law to allow Kambala
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the state government is contemplating bringing in a piece of legislation to allow Kambala.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a function in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah termed Kambala as a rural sport and favoured holding of the sport in the state, reports DHNS from Bengaluru.