Sir — Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has opined that an Ordinance can be brought to allow the conduct of buffalo race, Kambala, in coastal areas after seeking legal opinion. The Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu out of concern over cruelty on the bulls involved in the fight. A public outcry in Tamil Nadu defying the Supreme Court verdict ended up in an Ordinance issued to re-start the sport. Kamabala was also banned. But everybody meekly submitted to the ban order and it was not protested as much as the ban on Jallikattu was in Tamil Nadu.
Now the clamor for the revival of Kambala in Karnataka is more at not falling behind Tamil Nadu in getting an Ordinance issued, than on the seriousness to preserve the coastal culture of Karnataka.
Moreover, Siddaramaiah’s appeal to the Prime Minister for the revival of Kambala is not appealing. Siddaramaiah wants Kambala to be on par with Tamil Nadu for having restored Jallikattu. Such nonsensical approach without the people’s support cannot achieve the desired results. Had the people of Karnataka, supported by the Chief Minister, taken the ban on Kambala seriously and fought for bringing it back earlier, Karnataka would have had the credibility to question the Centre for not considering its case. Siddaramaiah has placed Karnataka’s case on Kambala on a weak pedestal.