Cock-fighting at Janmabhoomi valedictory

Pithapuram (East Godavari):  In full view of revenue and police officials, unmindful of the high court rulings MP Thota Narasimham and MLA NVSN Varma on Thursday took sides and participated in  cockfights on the pretext of it is a part of Sankranti celebrations at the valedictory of the Janmabhoomi-Maa Vooru programme held at Rajiv Gandhi Municipal High School here on Thursday.  

A huge crowd from neighbouring mandals and villages gathered at the venue. The MP and MLA took one cock each, brought by the party workers, and released them in the arena. The cocks fought as the people cheered on. It happened in full view of the police and revenue authorities. 

It may be recalled that the MLA went on record declaring at Uppada that reining in cockfights was impossible.  Several eyebrows were raised at organising of cockfight at the state government’s prestigious Janmabhoomi programme.  

Later, the people’s representatives took part in the Janmabhoomi programme and distributed tractors among the farmers under the Rythu Ratham programme and went round an exhibition put up by the ICDS. RDO of Kakinada Raghubabu, ZPTC members Barla Appa Rao, Madiki Sanyasi Rao, MPP M Vijayalata, municipal chairman Karanam Chinna Rao and others took part in the valedictory.

By Saride Nageswara Rao