Agitations seeking to revive Jallikattu (taming of the bull sport) which had been banned by the Supreme Court is gathering momentum in and around Madurai.

The Organisers were demanding that the traditional sport should be held in connection with the Pongal festival in January mid-week. The Jallikattu held at Avaniapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur every year attracted not only sportsmen, but onlookers from various countries.

Despite the ban, the organisers and participants are preparing hundreds of bulls and were training them at various places.

A demonstration was held by Veerakula Amarakula Iyakkam president Murugan and bull rearers association at Avaniapuram near here today. They wanted Tamil Nadu government to file a review petition in the apex court regarding its order to ban the sport.

Murugan said “It is a valorous game played by courageous youths. Similarly rekla race (small cart), cock fight and sheep-fight are games. There is no ill treatment involved in the sport. There is a lot of misunderstanding and misconceptions about the game spread by some vested interest people” he said.

P Rajasekhar, President of the Jallikattu Game Protection Federation, said animal lovers had “misled” the Supreme Court by giving a false picture about the game. “The bull are revered and treated kindly”.

Subramanian, another organising committee member says that they are very kind to the bulls and in fact they pamper them so much to defeat the opponent.

An organiser says he has already spent Rs 70,000 preparing his bull for the sport.

“At any point of time we do not harm them. After the Supreme Court’s earlier order before the banning of the sport, they ensure that bulls are not beaten or their tail not twisted.”

Rajasekaran said bull fight in India is not at all cruel. On the risk faced by the sportsmen, he said it was there in every game. This could not be alibi to ban the sport.

The shops in Alanganallur and Palamedu were closed recently demanding to revive Jallikattu.

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