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Cockfights Reflect Our Culture: Murali Mohan

Cockfights Reflect Our Culture: Murali Mohan

Sankranthi has now become synonymous with cockfights in Seemandhra. The fights which have seen huge public response in the past few years also result in heavy betting during the season.

Though technically, it is now banned, betting to the tune of Rs 400 crores still continues during the three-day festival which is the biggest harvest festival of Seemandhra people.

This year too, people are already gearing up to witness the spectacle as people from all over India return to their villages to celebrate the festival.

Already, the ruling Telugu Desam Party has been working to get the ban on cockfights removed as many politicians too stake huge sums on the event.

Towing his party line is Rajahmundry MP Murali Mohan who says cockfights are an integral part of Sankranthi celebrations since ages.

He argues that at a time when western culture is eating away into our traditions and habits, such events help people to enjoy the festival.

Many animal activists oppose the fights as the cocks are tied with knives during the fight. But Murali Mohan has an answer for that too.

He says that the knives actually make the game short and swift. Otherwise, the birds fight it out longer and this leads to more bruises, he explains.

Also, this makes the fight interesting for those watching it, he argues. Taking his point a little further, he says if people don’t want cockfights, then they must also refrain from eating non-veg as that also involves harming the animals and consuming them.

Murali Mohan also reminded that cockfights have been part of the agricultural set-up since a long time and that it was something that people have been following since ages. It also provided entertainment for people when there were no movies or TV, he said.

Another major point made by those opposing these fights is that people lose heavily due to the high stakes involved in betting. Murali Mohan had an answer for that too. He says that this was not right as people lose a lot more in cricket betting.

Finally, Murali Mohan said a special request has been made to Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu asking for cockfights to be made official during the four festival days.

The state has to hold official celebrations for the festival and allow people to enjoy and take part in cockfights he said.

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