The Tamil Nadu government will amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, through an ordinance to enable the conduct of Jallikattu, a traditional sport of bull-taming, within a couple of days.
The Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, after his meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, when Modi assured him that the Centre will support any legal measure by the State government to conduct Jallikattu, he had stayed back in Delhi to consult with legal experts on framing the ordinance.
The draft of the ordinance has been submitted to the Home Ministry this morning which will send it, along with its own recommendations, to the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee for his assent. The Tamil Nadu governor will then be able to promulgate the ordinance enabling the conduct of the traditional sport which had been banned by the Supreme Court in 2014.
This year, the ban on Jallikattu has evoked an unprecedented response from youngsters across the State who came together using social media platform. The Supreme Court had struck down a review petition by the State government and a notification by the Central Environment Ministry in a bid to get around the ban while conforming to the PCA law. Disappointed youth took to the streets last Wednesday after the Pongal holidays, the harvest season festival after which the Jallikattu is usually held in South Tamil Nadu.
Over the last four days there have been widespread agitations particularly in Chennai, where thousands of college students and young professionals have camped at the Marina Beach night and day demanding the Centre and State take measures to get around the Supreme Court ban. Students and youth in southern districts of Madurai and neighbouring districts in South, where the Jallikattu is popular, and in other major towns and cities have come together protesting the ban.
The protesters stand is that the sport is a mark of traditional and cultural identity of the Tamil people. It is also a way to nurture native breeds of cattle by selecting for strength.
On the fourth day of the protest today a general bandh has been called by various associations including trade unions in public transport, autorickshaws and traders. Many colleges have been closed and traffic was sparse in the city during the peak hour of the working day. A number of shops in busy business districts were closed.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister urged the protesters to give up the agitation as the government is taking steps to conduct the Jallikattu within a day or two.