Anti-nationals infiltrated pro-jallikattu protests, says CM

Chennai, January 27

Tamil Nadu Government on Friday blamed “evil forces”, “anti-nationals", and “extremists” for the violence that overtook  protests for jallikattu.

Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said that “these people” had made it difficult for students to rejoice the legal steps taken for the conduct of jallikattu, for which they (the protesters) had made a contribution".

"Anti-national, anti-social and extremist elements had infiltrated the protests held by students, youth and public for the conduct of jallikattu. These persons diverted the peaceful movement, did not allow the protesters to disperse, attacked policemen and endangered public life and property by indulging in violence," he said.

He also claimed police “maintained restraint” despite provocations, using “minimal forces” but never firing or “resorting to lathicharge”, a claim that appears contrary to those made by protesters.

"I wish to point out that the police used minimum force and protected public life and property," he said, as he answered the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday on how the protests that had until then been peaceful turned violent.

He claimed that police had reports that suggested that some protesters wanted demonstrations to last until Republic Day, when they wanted to wave “black flags and create problems".

“Some even raised separate Tamil Nadu demands and there is photographic proof of some holding pictures of Osama Bin Laden with accompanying Boycott Republic Day slogans," he claimed, adding that many "objectionable" statements had been made.        

Protests for the rural bull-taming sport turned violent on its 6th day on January 23, as clashes between police and protesters were reported. — PTI