Maneka asks Spanish F1 champion to stop glorifying bullfights

New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) Lok Sabha MP and Former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has asked Spanish Formula one champion Fernando Alonso not to glorify bullfights.

In a letter to Alonso, the animal right activist urged him to stop mimicking the motions of a matador confronting a bull in a bullfight while standing on top of his car or at the podium.

''It may surprise you to hear that when you stand on top of your car or on the podium and contort your body into the shape of a matador (''murderer'') confronting a bull in the ring, you are offending millions of people all over the world who deplore cruelty to animals, inclusing who hold cows and bulls in high esteem for religious reasons,'' she wrote.

Describing the Spaniard as a great and inspiring driver, Ms Gandhi said glorifying the torture of bulls ''diverts attention from your tremendous skill in a true sport, one in which all participants were there because they wished to participate,'' she said.

The bullfight constituted outright cruelty to animals, with the bull often given laxatives before entering the arena and had vaseline put into the eyes to blur the animal's vision, Ms Gandhi wrote further.

The torment of a living being and his subsequent repeated stabbing and slow death, as well as the removal of his ears, is barbaric and not acceptable by any humane standards. Even in Spain, awareness is growing fast and some towns have already banned the crude, cruel and cowardly spectacle, she said.

''Please do not posture as if you are a bullfighter when you win a race. Please cheer, wave, give us a victory sign, anything you like but that,'' she added.

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