The MP was seen holding the cockerel in his hand and defended his action by citing that cock-fighting was a traditional event.
Ruling Telugu Desam Party MP, Maganti Venkateswara Rao, inaugurated a cock-fighting session in the Eluru stadium, West Godavari district, on Wednesday despite a ban on the age-old practice by Hyderabad High Court.
The government has listed a series of measures it has undertaken and is planning to implement to prevent the practice.
The government also stated that it had already banned cockfights and that every effort would be made to prevent its conduct this season and that violators will be dealt with sternly.
The High Court of Hyderabad had earlier directed Andhra Pradesh government to ensure that no cockfight takes place during upcoming 'Pongal' festival.
The PIL stated that the 'evil practice' resulted in deaths of several birds and that many people belonging to the middle class and the down-trodden sections are investing huge amount of their hard-earned money and eventually losing it on gambling related to cockfight.
The cock-fighting event, that is conducted around the Pongal or Makar Sankaranti festival in AndhraPradesh and Telangana, faced a ban by the HC after PILs were filed by Human Society International India, an NGO, seeking a ban on the event.
The MP was seen holding the cockerel in his hand and defended his action by citing that cock-fighting was a traditional event.
Ruling Telugu Desam Party MP, Maganti Venkateswara Rao, inaugurated a cock-fighting session in the Eluru stadium, West Godavari district, on Wednesday despite a ban on the age-old practice by Hyderabad High Court.
The MP was seen holding the cockerel in his hand and defended his action by citing that cock-fighting was a traditional event.