Jallikattu stir gathers force, enters Day 3
Rajini, Rahman, Kamal Haasan join cause
CHENNAI: Top Tamil Nadu celebrities Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and AR Rahman came out in support of Jallikattu on Thursday, as protests against a court ban on the popular and ancient bull-taming sport rocked the southern state for the third consecutive day.
Superstars Rajinikanth and Haasan said separately that the sport, played around Pongal festival in mid-January, must be allowed as it is part of Tamil culture.
Oscar-winning music composer Rahman tweeted that he would fast on Friday to “support the spirit of Tamil Nadu”.
They are among a host of celebrities and organisations that have pledged their support to thousands of people protesting peacefully on Chennai’s signature Marina Beach, and cities and towns across the state. The protesters vowed that their apolitical demonstration will continue as long as the Supreme Court’s 2014 ban is not lifted.
More people joined the demonstrations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained noncommittal to chief minister O Panneerselvam’s appeal for an ordinance to skirt the ban on Jallikattu. Modi said the matter was in the top court.
Thousands of people camping on Marina Beach blamed politicians for not issuing an ordinance to override the court’s ban. Besides, they wanted a ban on PETA, the animal rights group campaigning against the sport.