A day after the new AIADMK General secretary Sasikala Natarajan urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to change the status of Pongal holidays to compulsory, she wrote to the PM asking him to revoke the ban on the controversial sport, Jallikattu.
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.
“Jallikattu is a traditional sporting event of Tamil Nadu and forms and essential part of the Pongal celebrations. The bulls specially reared for the purpose are tamed by the ardent youths and this sport is not in the least cruel to animals, unlike sporting events including horses, camels, and other animals,” she wrote.
Also Read: Explained: What is Jallikattu and why is it so controversial?
“The ban on Jallikattu has incensed the public of Tamil Nadu and the youth in particular, and all efforts have to be taken to revoke the ban,” she added in her statement.
Reiterating the fact that Jallikattu is a traditional sport, Sasikala asked the Prime Minister to look into the matter and take immediate steps.
AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala Natarajan writes to PM Modi, urges him to promulgate ordinance for #jallikattu . pic.twitter.com/DHrxUnvGrx
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 11, 2017
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.
Other political parties like DMK have been pressurising the Central and state Governments collectively, to take steps to hold the sports coinciding with Pongal this year. Jallikattu has evoked strong reactions from across the country despite being a local issue.
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