BJP National Spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill today met Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Puri in New Delhi and sought his intervention for the resumption of bullock-cart racing in the Kila Raipur Sports Festival known as “Rural Olympics” of India".
In a statement issued today, Shergill said that during his meeting with the Minister, he has urged Puri to get the President's assent to ‘The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2019’ that will pave the way for the resumption of the bullock-cart race at the annual Kila Raipur Rural Olympics.
Elaborating on the matter, Shergill told Puri that bullock-cart racing is a crucial issue of culture and heritage, associated with Punjab and Punjabiyat, from the past so many decades. “Kila Raipur rural games have been organised continuously since the year 1933 in the village Kila Raipur, district Ludhiana. Presently, these games are known all over the world by the name of Mini Olympics.”
Shergill informed Puri that because of the popularity of the bullock-cart race in Punjab and its historical and cultural significance, ‘The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2019’ was passed in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, after which the Bill was sent to the Hon’ble President for his assent but till now, permission has not been received from the Government of India to resume the bullock-cart race.
Shergill also said that the bullock-cart race is played not only in Kila Raipur village (Ludhiana) but also in almost 80 per cent of villages of Punjab, which counts to almost 12000. “Henceforth, the resumption of the bullock cart race would have a positive impact on not just Kila Raipur but all those villages in Punjab that are emotionally connected with the game”, while requesting Puri to make efforts for getting the President’s assent to ‘The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2019’, so that Punjab’s rich and glorious cultural heritage remains preserved.
During his meeting, Shergill also handed over a request letter in this regard to the Minister. After the meeting, Shergill said that Puri has given a very positive response to the matter and has assured that he would take up this crucial issue, so that ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2019’ gets the President’s assent.