Jallikattu gets TN, Centre nod, over to the President

ORDINANCE ROUTE Protesters in Chennai say they won’t budge till ban is lifted

Jallikattu is two steps away from being a legal sport again as the Centre cleared on Friday the Tamil Nadu government’s ordinance to skirt a court ban and sent it to the President for his assent.

The state’s acting governor, C Vidyasagar Rao, will promulgate the ordinance once President Pranab Mukherjee gave his approval, which can happen anytime in the next 24 hours.

The decks were cleared for a decree after two days of hyperactive government consultations, amid growing anger and protests in the southern state over restrictions to hold its traditional and popular bull-taming sport.

“Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the joyous news will come. For sure, Jallikattu will be held in Tamil Nadu,” said chief minister O Panneerselvam, who had dashed to New Delhi after promising protesters back home that he would persuade the Centre for an ordinance.

The ordinance will be promulgated to amend the 57-year-old Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the law the Supreme Court cited to ban Jallikattu in 2014, saying it amounted to cruelty to the bulls.

Section 28 of this law allows killing of any animal in a manner required by a community’s religion. Official sources said this section could be amended to allow bull-taming for cultural reasons. Protestors stage a rail roko at the Mambalam station in Chennai to demand lifting of the ban on Jallikattu, on Friday. Demonstrations were witnessed across Tamil Nadu for the fourth consecutive day.

PTI PHOTO