Jallikattu protest continues, DMK holds ‘rail roko’ agitation in Chennai

A huge crowd of people led by the DMK working president MK Stalin is staging their protest at the Mambalam railway station

By: News Desk |
January 20, 2017 10:17 am

Day by day the voices in support of Jallikattu are getting strong and today the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) announced a statewide ‘rail roko’ agitation where they will create a massive blockage around the states railway stations.

A huge crowd of people led by the DMK working president MK Stalin is staging their protest at the Mambalam railway station and MP Kanimozhi will lead the protest in Chennai’s Egmore Railway station to support Jallikattu.

The chief minister of state, O Panneerselvam, also said this morning that he has taken legal advice on ban over the bull taming sport and an ordinance have been passed to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Panneerselvam also requested the protestors to take back their agitation and assured that he had with the legal experts and the game will be enacted soon.

He said,”The Tamil Nadu government has sent a draft of amendment to MHA this morning. I believe the draft would be approved in one-two days which will pave the way for Jallikattu.”

Chennai: DMK workers hold ‘Rail Roko’ protest over #Jallikattu issue, halt a train at Mambalam railway station. MK Stalin also present. pic.twitter.com/8VhwU0WduI

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 20, 2017

Chennai’s Marina Beach continues to witness massive crowd coming out in support of #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/v7SqiepBJc

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 20, 2017

#WATCH: DMK workers break barricading, enter Chennai’s Mambalam railway station while protesting in support of #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/6CLHSapn4z

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 20, 2017

Around 50,000 youth gathered at the Marina beach for protest and also across the state.

On January 19, TN chief minister O Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the issues including the massive protests in the state of Tamil Nadu. However, he affirmed that the central government would provide all the necessary support for the steps taken by the state government.

Jallikattu also received a huge support from different celebrities, spiritual gurus and much more. Music maestro A.R.Rahman announced yesterday, on a tweet, wrote that on January 20 he will sit on a fast to protest against the ban on the famous bull taming sport.

The founder of the Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on January 19 came out in support of the conduct of the ancient bull-taming sport Jallikattu, calling it an integral part of Pongal.

Earlier, many actors from South like superstar Rajnikanth, Kamal Hasan and others have voiced their support against the ban. Indian Chess master Viswanathan Anand have also come out to support Jallikattu saying that it was a cultural symbol and we should respect it. Hailing the protests happening in the state of Tamil Nadu, Anand said that generation next is “culturally rooted.”

Also yesterday, officials from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said that they may take legal action if the Centre brings an ordinance to enable the conduct of Jallikattu.

On January 18, On January 18, thousands of students gathered at Chennai’s Marina Beach in Chennai. A man also buried himself in the sand near Marina beach as Jallikattu protest intensifies across the state.