A delegation of AIADMK MPs from Tamil Nadu today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to press for their demand to promulgate an ordinance to allow the conduct of Jallikattu, the controversial bull-taming sport held near the Pongal festival.
The delegation was led by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who requested the Home Minister to intervene to ensure promulgation of an ordinance to end the ban on the conduct of the sport.
In return, Thambidurai said, Rajnath assured them that the Centre will take action so that the Tamil Nadu government can promulgate it in the next few days.
"The Home Minister has assured us that the file on ordinance will be processed as early as possible so that the ordinance can be promulgated in next two-three days," Thambidurai said.
In a memorandum, the AIADMK MPs said that the ban on Jallikattu is against the fundamental, religious and cultural rights of the people of Tamil Nadu, especially when such bulls and cows are treated as a part of their own family and are worshipped and no way they are being ill-treated.
"We request you to kindly intervene in the matter immediately to promulgate an ordinance lifting the ban on conduct of Jalikkattu, amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, de-notifying bulls from the notification of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to enable us to preserve our rich culture and tradition," the memorandum said.
After discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and consultations with legal experts, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced this morning that the state government will amend a Central act on Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to allow conduct of Jallikattu in the state with Centre's backing.
In view of this, he urged protesters across the state to withdraw their agitation because of the likelihood of the bull taming sport to be held in a "day or two".
However, demonstrators said that they will continue their protests across Tamil Nadu till Jallikattu is held in the state.
Protestors said that they are not satisfied with the Chief Minister’s assurance that Jallikattu would be held in couple of days.
Meanwhile, MoS for Environment and Forest, Anil Dave said that the Home Ministry had received a proposal from the Tamil Nadu government and the matter was under consideration.
He assured that the matter will be solved in the shortest time possible.
The Supreme Court had in May 2014 banned Jallikattu, saying that bulls cannot be used as performing animals including in 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 Jallikattu, a bull vaulter is expected to hang on to the animal's hump for a stipulated distance or hold on to the hump for a minimum of three jumps made by the bull. The sport is traditionally held as part of the four-day Pongal festival in the state.
