Jallikattu unites rivals of Tamil Nadu politics

Chennai: Even sworn enemies of Tamil Nadu politics were brought together by jallikattu on Friday as rivals of the BJP appreciated the saffron party for allowing the conduct of the sport.

Barely an hour after the Union government announced the altering of a 2011 notification of union environment ministry exempting the sport from performance for which the bulls should not used, DMK president M. Karunanidhi, state Congress president EVKS Elangovan and CPI leaders, who were bitterest critics of the Modi regime till Thursday, appreciated the BJP and its Union minister from Tamil Nadu Pon Radhakrishnan for the announcement, which was received with epiphany of highest order by organizers of jallikattu, mostly from southern districts, who burst crackers and distributed sweets to mark the symbolic victory.  

Elsewhere in the state, animal lovers affiliated to Peta (People for ethical treatment of animals) and Animal Welfare Board (AWB), who had been batting for a ban on the sport all along, questioned the legality of the alteration of the notification and threatened to move the Supreme Court again to get the sport banned.

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Appreciating Radhakrishnan shortly after news spread, Elangovan said that he wholeheartedly congratulates Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP for the announcement. However, a cautious Elangovan also clarified that it was not appropriate to blame the Congress for the 2011 notification as the sport was organized in TN for three years continuously after the notification and only the subsequent SC verdict had stopped the conduct of the sport.

Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and PMK founder Dr Anbumani Ramadoss were among leaders who lauded the Modi regime for Friday's announcement.