Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on January 12 called for a state-wide protest in Tamil Nadu against the ban on the controversial bull-taming sport, Jallikattu. This came soon after the Supreme Court dismissed the plea just two days prior to Pongal.
Just a day after AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natrajan urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promulgate ordinance for Jallikattu, the apex court rejected petition seeking an ordinance over Jallikattu, saying that it can’t allow the sport in the state to happen.
The SC said that the draft of the final judgement has been prepared but it is not possible to give a verdict before this Saturday when Pongal will be celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
DMK announces state wide protest in Tamil Nadu over #Jallikattu
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 12, 2017
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister Sasikala told the Prime Minister that her “mentor” and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who passed away last month was keen that Jallikattu be restored further asking him to promulgate an ordinance for Jallikattu.
Reiterating the fact that Jallikattu is a traditional sport, Sasikala asked the Prime Minister to look into the matter and take immediate steps. In fact, both AIADMK and DMK had requested the Centra government to intervene and revoke ban on the sport. In 2014, the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on this bull-fighting sport. Last year, it upheld the held the order when it dismissed state government’s review petition.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had also requested him to resume the sports Jallikattu on Pongal this year. Jallikattu was banned by the Supreme Court of India in May 2014 citing it an animal welfare issue.
