JALLIKATTU TODAY IN MADURAI
Five days of peaceful and persistent protests across Tamil Nadu paid off on Saturday with Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao promulgating an ordinance to pave the way for jallikattu to be held once again in the state after a ban of nearly three years imposed by the Supreme Court following several petitions from animal rights outfits alleging that the bulls were being tortured.
Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam told reporters that he would himself flag off the jallikattu at Alanganallur near Madurai on Sunday and other ministers would inaugurate the bull sport in their respective districts simultaneously.
This would be followed by a full-fledged legislation to be enacted in the Assembly session beginning on Monday, which would replace the ordinance and amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao promulgated an ordinance to pave the way for jallikattu to be held once again in the state.
“That would be the ultimate solution (niranthara
theervu). There is no need for any apprehension,” Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said, while thanking the protesters, particularly the youth and students, for carrying out their long agitation in an orderly and peaceful manner.
But the protesters numbering several thousands remained unrelenting saying ordinance is not a permanent solution.
The Chief Minister had met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to plead for help to overcome the SC ban and end the critical situation arising out of the unprecedented upsurge among the Tamil people across the state demanding jallikattu.
The PM explained that it would not be possible for the Centre to promulgate any ordinance but it could help the State in all possible ways in finding a solution.
The CM stayed back in Delhi till Friday afternoon to ensure that all Central clearances were through for the state's ordinance and Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, advanced his trip to Chennai by a day to arrive in the city Saturday early evening for giving his approval to the ordinance.
The protesters at Marina Beach, the epicenter of the state-wide stir with close to three lakh people gathered on this fifth day, however, appeared to be in no mood to relent, insisting that the PCA should be amended so as to ensure permanent solution.
The CM’s assertion that he had delivered a permanent solution did not cut ice with them. It was the same restive situation at Alanganallur with the crowds refusing to listen to Madurai collector Veeraraghava Rao and district SP Vijayendra Bidari that the CM's package was indeed a permanent answer to their jallikattu demand.
Collector Rao told the Alanganallur congregation that he had arranged for 340 bulls for the jallikattu to start at 10.30 am. There would be 17 veterinarians to examine the bulls, 20 medical teams to check the men participating in the contest and ambulances for medical help.