Goa BJP to ask party MLA why he wants bullfights revived

Goa BJP has decided to seek clarification from its legislator, who has been demanding to restart bull-fights in the state, which are banned by the court and union environment ministry.
BJP Goa Unit president Vinay Tendulkar told reporters here today that the party would summon its legislator Vishnu Surya Wagh "seeking his view point on the stand taken by him supporting the bull-fights."
Wagh has been holding public meetings in favour of restarting the bull fights.
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2011 had banned bull-fights, which were traditionally held in the state's coastal belt.
Though the BJP state unit said that no disciplinary action would be taken against Wagh over his stand, the party opposes the bull-fights as they are illegal, Tendulkar said.

He said that Wagh would be summoned after party's national executive meeting scheduled between June 7-9.

Bull-fights were popular in Goa's coastal belt before they were banned by the Bombay High Court in 1996. The court had cited cruelty to animals as the reason for the ban.
The MoEF had also issued the notification on July 11, 2011, which added bull in the list of animals including bear, monkey, tiger, panther and lion that cannot be trained or used as a performing animal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960.
However, bull fights continue to be held at some places illegally.