The North News
Chandigarh, July 29
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday felicitated by traditional sports enthusiasts for passing a law to revive bullock cart races in the state after an 11-year ban. Speaking at a large gathering in Mahima Singh Wala village, Mann said the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed unanimously in the Assembly on July 11, aims to promote Punjab’s cultural heritage while ensuring animal welfare.
“These races are not merely entertainment; they are deeply rooted in Punjab’s rural identity,” said Mann. He linked the tradition to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who used bullocks for farming in Kartarpur Sahib, underlining its cultural significance. The Chief Minister said the new law, awaiting the President’s assent, will lay down guidelines for veterinary care, safety standards, documentation, and penalties to ensure no cruelty is inflicted on animals.
Mann also spoke of reviving other traditional sports like pigeon flying and highlighted the legacy of the Kila Raipur games, often referred to as the “Rural Olympics,” which gained global recognition, including from BBC and Discovery Channel. Shifting focus to the state’s drug problem, Mann condemned past political regimes for fostering the narcotics trade. He said that drug smugglers’ homes are being bulldozed and many key accused are already behind bars.
He accused former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh of sympathising with the jailed drug kingpin and questioned his silence when drug abuse was rampant. “Those who lit the pyres of our youth will not be spared,” he said.
On irrigation, Mann noted canal coverage had risen from 21% to 63% under his government. He also cited uninterrupted electricity for paddy farming and the historic state purchase of the Govindwal Power Plant, now renamed after Guru Amar Das Ji.
