Environment, Law Ministries clear Jallikattu ordinance

Chennai, January 20

Union Environment and Law Ministries on Friday cleared an ordinance that will allow bull-taming sport Jallikattu to be conducted, as protests for the rural event escalated in Tamil Nadu.  

The ordianance now requires President Pranab Mukherjee's sanction.

The development comes hours after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam promised his government would pass the ordinance over the next few days.

"After getting the assent of President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow, an ordinance will be promulgated by our Governor to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," he said on his arrival from Delhi, where he had gone to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Tomorrow or day-after-tomorrow, the joyous news of ordinance will come. For sure Jallikattu will be held in Tamil Nadu," he said, adding that his government would take legal action to deal with “obstacles” against conducting the event.

The development comes as protests that erupted spontaneously escalate across Tamil Nadu, with protesters refusing to leave Chennai's Marina Beach until the event was held.

"We will call off the protest only after Jallikattu is held in Tamil Nadu. The measure announced by the Chief Minister seems to be a stop-gap arrangement. The permanent solution is that the central government by a notification remove bull from the list of performing animals in The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," said a protester, as the crowd at Marina beach continued to swell despite the chief minister’s announcement

In several localities groups of youth carrying placards assembled playing drums.

"The student protest is the culmination of the stand taken by the central government on various issues concerning Tamil Nadu, like the Cauvery river water sharing, attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, Jallikattu," R. Arul, secretary, Pasumai Thayagam, a non-government organisation (NGO), told said.

"Perhaps the centre's stand vis-a-vis Tamil Nadu on several issues was the tipping point for former World Chess Champion V. Anand to extend his support to Jallikattu and claim ‘Tamizhanda’ (I am a Tamilian)," Arul said.

"Normally people like Anand and others would always claim that they are Indians first," Arul added.

He said the central government — whether it is headed by Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress — should accept the diversity of culture and civilisation that prevails in the country.

Arul also said there are no chances of the protest turning into a Tamil nationalist movement as those days are over.

"People are not supportive of such movements in Tamil Nadu," he added.

Meanwhile, the DMK held protests on rail tracks in Tamil Nadu and its Working President M.K. Stalin was detained by police for some time.

In some districts schools were also closed while shops downed their shutters across the state in support of Jallikattu.

The Supreme Court in May 2014 banned Jallikattu, saying that bulls cannot be used as performing animals including bullock-cart races.

Since then, people have been urging the central government to take steps to allow the sport.

The common complaint among the protest leaders was that the Supreme Court had insulted Tamil culture by disallowing the traditional sport observed during the harvest festival of Pongal.

In Tamil Nadu, the protests began on Tuesday morning following the arrest of protesters in Madurai district's Alanganallur town, well known for conducting the sport.

In Jallikattu, a bull vaulter is expected to hang on to the animal's hump for a stipulated distance or for a minimum of three jumps by the bull.

In Madurai large number of youth are continuing their protest in support of the state's ancient sport. Agencies