Tamil Nadu has gotten much closer to ending a ban on the
bull-taming sport of Jallikattu: an executive order or ordinance by the state
which allows Jallikattu has been cleared by the centre and sent to President
Pranab Mukherjee for his assent. Thousands of protestors gathered at Chennai's
Marina Beach since Tuesday say they will not disperse till the ban is
officially listed. The matter is also in the Supreme Court, which agreed today
that it will not deliver its verdict in the next week, as requested by the
centre, which pointed out that a decision could create law and order problems.
Thousands of students today gathered on the sands of Marina here
as protests demanding lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport 'jallikattu'
snowballed across Tamil Nadu. Faced with mounting anger on the streets,
the top brass of the state government got into a huddle as Chief Minister O
Panneerselvam decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow seeking an
ordinance for conduct of the age-old sport. He will be accompanied by 51 MPs of
AIADMK.
He appealed to the students to give up their protests even as IT
sector employees and several more actors joined the chorus for allowing 'jallikattu'. The
epicentre of protests appeared to have shifted to the state capital with
thousands of students and youths collecting on Marina beach demanding an end to
the ban on the age-old sport, saying it symbolised Tamil culture and the ban
reflected an anti-Tamil mindset. Symbolic 'jallikattu' events, where
bulls were let loose, were reported from Madurai, Sivaganga and Pattukottai.
Crowds, meanwhile, continued to swell at Alanganallur and Tamukkam
grounds in Madurai, the traditional base for the sport. Protesters at
Alanganallur demanded that the Centre issue an ordinance to allow Jallikattu
before 6 PM today. Animal rights organisation PeTA, which had moved the Supreme
Court against holding of the sport, was the target of attack by protesters who
demanded that it should be wound up.
The agitation by students, voluntary groups of pro-Tamil outfits
and farmers was well-attended with thousands thronging the venue including here
and Madurai. Tension prevailed at Tamukkam grounds as three students
attempted to set themselves ablaze which was foiled by police. Employees
working in the Information Technology sector today joined the agitation here by
forming human chains and staging protests in the vicinity of their workplaces
including the city's IT corridor on Rajiv Gandhi Salai.
Seven activists of a pro-Tamil outfit climbed the historic Pamban
railway bridge in Rameswaram and held a dharna. When they were removed by
police, they threatened to jump into the sea and commit suicide if they were
arrested. Tension prevailed in Kandipatti village in Sivaganga where 'Manju
Virattu' (bull chasing) was organised with 100 bulls. Police baton-charged to
disperse the participants. However, the protesters allegedly attacked police
with stones damaging a police vehicle and reinforcements were sent to bring the
situation under control.
At Pasukaranpatti in Madurai district, organisers released many
bulls with prize money attached to their horns on the road leaving it to youths
to tame them and take the prize money. Similar events were held near
Pattukottai in which 30 bulls participated.In view of the intensifying
protests, the Chief Minister held a high-level meeting with top officials
including Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, DGP T K Rajendran and Chennai
Police Commissioner S George.
More film personalities, including actors Vishal, comedian Vivek
and Sivakarthikeyan today expressed support for 'jallikattu'. Actors' body
South Indian Artistes' Association announced a hunger strike on January 20 on
the issue.Talks by State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and School Education
Minister K Pandiarajan followed by senior police officials failed to dissuade
the protestors on Marina beach here who insisted that the Chief Minister visit
the site and give an assurance that the sport would be allowed.
Protests were held and rallies taken out in several districts
including Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Madurai, Coimbatore,
Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga,
Theni, Thanjavur, Salem, Erode, Karur, Dharmapuri and Kanyakumari. Also, 'road
rokos' were held in various locations, including Ramanathapuram. In rallies and
protests by students and IT employees, slogans like 'We want jallikattu' and
'Ban anti-Tamil PETA' were raised.In Virudachalam in Cuddalore district where
students resorted to 'rail roko', chaotic scenes were witnessed with police
removing them from the spot.
Two youths resorted to a flash protest by climbing a mobile phone
tower in Namakkal and lawyers took out a rally in Dindigul and led decorated
bulls in a procession. The protests by students were nearly complete with those
studying in Annamalai and Azhagappa universities in Chidambaram and Karaikudi
respectively joining it.
Farmers Joint Action Council President Deivasigamani told
reporters in Thanjavur that the Centre should announce its decision on
'jallikattu' within 48 hours, else they would organise state-wide agitation on
January 20. In Madurai and surrounding regions, more than 20 traders
organisations also announced closure of shops on January 20 if the ban on
'jallikattu' was not lifted.
Actor Vishal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an
ordinance facilitating conduct of jallikattu. Actor Sivakarthikeyan tweeted,
"We need jallikattu." AIADMK organisational secretary C Ponnaiyan
blamed the Centre on the matter. "The Centre is inordinately delaying or
avoiding issuance of an ordinance (to allow holding of 'jallikattu') which is
well within their hands," he told PTI, adding more measures were being
taken on the issue to facilitate holding the bull-taming sport.
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