PUNE: Demanding lifting of the ban on bullock cart racing, around 2,000 people, along with 100 bulls, reached the collector’s office on Tuesday morning. The protestors are planning to camp for a few days outside the office and have submitted their list of demands to District Collector Saurabh Rao.

Speaking about their demands, Ramkrushna Takalkar of All India Bullock Cart Association said that the government should intervene and lift the ban on bullock cart racing. “If the High Court is ready to listen to the demands of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), they cannot ignore our demands. If bullock cart racing amounts to cruelty, so is the use of bulls in transporting sugarcane. The ban by the High Court is affecting rural economy,” added Takalkar.

The protestors reached the collector’s office from different parts of Maharashtra including Akola, Nashik, Ahmednagar and other areas. The protestors threatened to bring in more people if their demands are not met. 

Takalkar said, “We are not demanding money from the government for raising bulls. All we are asking is to allow bullock cart racing. Moreover, racing will improve the breed quality and bulls will live longer.”

Speaking on the issue, Amit Shah of Jeev Sewa Foundation said that the ban on bullock cart racing is in place by the High Court and the government should not intervene in the issue.

“If the bull owners feel that racing will improve the breed quality and bulls will live longer, they should prove it scientifically. After the court found that bullock cart racing amounts to cruelty to animals, the court took a decision to ban it,” added Shah.

MLA Mahesh Landge also demanded the removal of the ban on bullock cart racing in the State and submitted the request to the district collector.