Jallikattu protests gain strength in Tamil Nadu
The sport is held as part of the four-day Pongal festival
CHENNAI: The massive state wide protests by youth in Tamil Nadu who are demanding holding of Jallikattu — the bull-taming sport — and banning animal rights group PETA, entered second day on Wednesday with protestors holding out throughout the night.
The support for the protesters is growing with the students of SRM University here announcing to demonstrate outside their institution.
Similarly, protests have been gaining strength at several other places in Tamil Nadu. Lawyers in Namakkal district have announced boycott of courts.
Hundreds of college students and other youth sat throughout the night at Marina Beach here pressing their demands as talks with two state ministers failed on Tuesday night.
The demonstration began on Tuesday morning after the news of the arrest of Jallikattu protesters in Alanganallur town of Madurai district spread here.
The protests started on Monday morning in Alanganallur. Despite police disconnecting the power supply at Marina Beach, the protest continued with mobile phone lights in the night.
DMK party’s Working President and leader of the opposition in Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin, urged Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to meet the protesters and take immediate action for holding the sport.
The protesters got their boost with popular actor Vijay lending his support by saluting them.
“Law was not created to rob people off their tradition and rights but to protect it. Jallikattu is every Tamilian’s identity. Those who are protesting against the ban on Jallikattu are united by the feeling that they are Tamilians but not out of compulsion or political pressure. I bow down to each and everyone of them,” Vijay said in a video message.
Actor Suriya, in between his promotional tour for upcoming Tamil action C3, lashed out at animal rights advocacy group PETA, which is aggressively campaigning against Jallikattu.
Actor G V.Prakash, singer-lyricist Arunraja Kamaraj and filmmaker Karthik Subbaraj joined supporters on ground on Tuesday.
The sport is traditionally held as part of the four-day Pongal festival in the state.