Panaji, March 24 (IANS) The Goa legislative assembly Tuesday unanimously passed amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) act legalising ‘dhirio’ or bullfighting in the coastal state.
The house passed the controversial private members bill moved by Congress lawmaker Reginaldo Lourenco giving legislative sanction to the traditional sport of bullfighting that was banned following a directive from the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court about a decade ago.

The legislative sanction however comes with a rider. “Proper guidelines will have to be issued form time to time to ensure that cruelty to the animals is kept in check,” Lourenco said, referring to the existing tradition of bullfighting in certain parts of Tamil Nadu.

Intervening in the discussion, Speaker Pratapsing Rane suggested that the sport of bullfighting would cause harm to animals.

Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar also advocated a regulation to ensure safety of the animals.

Former chief minister and MP Francisco Sardinha had also introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha in February this year, seeking to legalise bullfighting in Goa, which he claimed could help promote tourism in the state.