Protesters urge Modi to allow bull-taming

NEW DELHI // Protests staged by thousands of people demanding the reversal of a supreme court decision banning a traditional Indian bull- taming festival almost brought the southern state of Tamil Nadu to standstill yesterday.

Protesters and state leaders urged prime minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the row over “jallikattu”, a hazardous rite in which youths and men wrestle rampaging bulls, holding on to their humps for three jumps to win a prize.

Thousands of small factories, shops and schools closed for a second day, with the largest crowd gathering in Chennai.

Children carried placards blaming the judiciary and animal rights groups for the ban on what they said was a key part of the Pongal harvest festival celebrated by Hindus.

Hundreds of bulls are injured every year because participants twist their tails, beat them and even stab them with knives to control the animals.

More than 1,200 spectators have been injured at such events between 2010 and 2014, said animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“It is a primitive sport and we love it. No one has the right to stop a sporting activity,” said Kanimozhi Subramanian, 23, a university student spearheading youth protests.

Talks between the government and protest leaders on allowing the event have failed so far.