Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in a heartfelt and cultural statement regarding the bullock cart race, stated that the farmers of Punjab raise their bulls like their own sons.
Chandigarh: Traditional bullock cart races will once again be seen in action in Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has lifted the 11-year ban on bullock cart races. This decision was taken under the Punjab Animal Cruelty Prevention (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2025, passed in the state assembly, which will allow this traditional sport to restart throughout the state.
Bullock cart race is connected to the traditional heritage: Bhagwant Mann
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann described this decision as being linked to Punjab's culture and rural lifestyle. He said that in Punjab, farmers raise bulls like their sons. The diet of the bulls participating in the bullock cart race costs lakhs of rupees. It is not just a sport but our tradition. Bhagwant Mann mentioned Guru Nanak Dev Ji, saying that he too had done farming with the help of bulls.
This decision will not only revive the tradition but also promote the conservation of indigenous animal breeds. Permission for the bullock cart race has been granted with some important conditions. The government has clarified that the following measures will be ensured to prevent animal cruelty:
- Regular veterinary check-ups of the animals
- Registration and documentation of participants
- Adherence to safety standards during the game
- Strict punishment for violation of the law
Thus, this race will now be held under regular monitoring, which will make the possibility of any kind of animal cruelty negligible.
Exemption was given only to Kila Raipur during the Congress era
In 2014, the bullock cart race was banned in Punjab after an order from the Supreme Court. The previous Congress government had passed an amended bill, which gave exemption for bullock cart racing only to the Kila Raipur Sports Festival. But the current Aam Aadmi Party government has taken a big decision by enacting a new law to implement it throughout Punjab.
Akali Dal MLA Manpreet Ayali said in the assembly that traditional sports like dog racing, pigeon racing, and bullock cart racing should not be stopped. Conditions can be imposed, but tradition should not be stopped. On this issue, the government and the opposition appeared to be on the same page, due to which the bill was passed without opposition.
Green signal for private universities, the number reached 19
During the assembly session itself, two new private universities – Rayat Bahra Professional University (Hoshiarpur) and CGC University – were approved. However, the opposition, demanding regulation, said that the establishment of a regulatory authority is necessary to monitor fee control and the quality of education in private universities. Despite this, the bills of both universities were passed without amendments. Now, the total number of private universities in Punjab has reached 19.
Labor Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond presented the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Bill 2025 and the Labor Welfare Fund Bill, 2025 in the House. Under this:
- Establishments with up to 20 employees were exempted from many legal provisions.
- The overtime limit was increased to 144 hours per quarter.
- The maximum working hours were fixed at 12 hours per day (including breaks).
- Provision was made to pay double wages for working more than 9 hours per day or 48 hours per week.
