Sankranti Cockfights: Rs. 100 cr changes hands

Eluru: Despite legal sanctions, cockfights are going on in most parts of Andhra Pradesh on the eve of Sankranti festival on Thursday.

Interestingly, ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and MLAs are openly participating in the cockfights in East and West Godavari districts where crores of rupees are changing hands in bettings. Ungaturu MLA Ganni Veeranjaneyulu inaugurated the cockfight near Eluru by cutting a ribbon. He said cockfights are part of Andhra culture and only betting is illegal. However, betting is going on in thousands on each cock. Unable to control and implement the recent High Court order, police became mute witness to the cockfight events. According to some estimates, betting has gone up to Rs100 crore on the first day of the festival in Godavari districts.