Rejecting the Tamil Nadu government’s ordinance to facilitate Jallikattu, people holding protests yesterday in support of the bull-taming sport demanded a “permanent” and not temporary solution.
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday issued the ordinance to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to hold Jallikattu, which was banned by the Supreme Court in May 2014.
Chief Minister O Pannerselvam will today flag off the event at Alanganallur in Madurai district, famous for the sport.
However the protesting youths were clearly not impressed.
“The ordinance is valid only for six months. We want a permanent solution, whereby the central government amends the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” a protester told IANS.
At Alanganallur, where the youth protest first began on January 16, similar views were expressed by the protesters. “People are fighting for a permanent solution. Doesn’t the government know that? The ordinance is just to make the protesters disperse,”
a protester said in Alanganallur.
The protesters made clear their intentions to continue with their protest and also requested fellow protesters not to distribute sweets and celebrate the government’s decision.
A day after the Central government gave its nod, the Tamil Nadu government yesterday cleared an ordinance to enable the holding of popular bull-taming sport in the state.
The ordinance was signed by the Governor Ch VidyaSagar Rao. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act will be amended through this ordinance.
“As a follow up to the meeting with the prime minister on January 19, to enable the conduct of Jallikattu, the Government of Tamil Nadu issued an Ordinance after obtaining the necessary prior instructions of the President of India as envisaged under Article 213 of the Constitution,” Panneerselvam said in a statement.
He said the Ordinance was promulgated by the government and Jallikattu would be held all over the state with all necessary safeguards.
Panneerselvam said the act will be passed in the coming Assembly session on January 23. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping get the ordinance within a day.