Amid uproar, bill to legalise Jallikattu passed unanimously in Tamil Nadu Assembly

The bill to replace the ordinance passed by the Governer on January 21, was tabled by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

By: News Desk |
January 23, 2017 5:32 pm

The ongoing protests to lift the ban on the controversial bull-taming sport, Jallikattu, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on January 23 passed the bill to replace the ordinance on Jallikattu. Amid the uproar in several parts of Tamil Nadu in support Jallikattu, the bill replacing the ordinance passed by the Governer on January 21, was tabled by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

The protest which was being carried out peacefully till yesterday took a violent turn today. The angry protesters set the Ice House Police Station to fire, near the Marina Beach whereas the TN police detained over 100 students who were protesting near Meenakshi Hall in Coimbatore.

Earlier this day, the TN police asked the protesters at Chennai’s Marina beach to call back their agitation as “their purpose has been fully achieved” since the state government promulgated an ordinance on January 21. But the protesters demanded more time which compelled the police to take charge forcefully.

In what was a big win for the protestors supporting the festival, Tamil Nadu Governer C. Vidyasagar Rao recently approved the ordinance seeking conduct of the game.

Meanwhile, all routes leading to Marina Beach have been closed, and barricades have been put up by the police to prevent people from assembling there.

On January 22, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam faced protests when he went to inaugurate Jallikattu event in Alanganallur. Protesters there demanded a permanent solution for conducting a Jallikattu event in the state, therefore, not allowing Tamil Nadu CM to inaugurate.

Earlier, the Supreme Court was informed that both the Centre and Tamil Nadu were in touch and some measures were being taken to tackle the situation that surfaced in light of the harvest festival in which the ancient animal sport has special significance. It has been a week since thousands of people have gathered at the Marina beach in Chennai demanding lift on Supreme Court’s ban on the famous bull taming sport claiming is a part of their culture.