Will bring ordinance on Jallikattu, draft ready; Centre is coordinating: TN CM

New Delhi: In a bid to defuse the swelling street protests, Tamil Nadu government today said it will issue an ordinance to ensure the conduct of Jallikattu sport in a day or two and has submitted a draft of it to the Union Home Ministry.

After discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and consultations with legal experts, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced this morning that the state government will amend a Central act on Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to allow conduct of Jallikattu in the state with Centre's backing and urged protestors across the state to withdraw their agitation following the likelihood of the bull taming sport to be held in a "day or two."

Panneerselvam, who stayed back in Delhi yesterday to discuss the matter with legal experts and government officials, said the draft ordinance has been prepared and sent to the Union Home Ministry today, and after Centre's approval, it will be sent for Presidential assent.

"I stayed back in Delhi yesterday and discussed with legal experts and senior government officials the matter of making amendments to Centre's animal cruelty prevention act (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960) at the state level. On the basis of that it was decided to bring an amendment to the Act at the state level," he told reporters here.

"It was also decided to issue an ordinance to make this amendment. Under the Constitution of India, this draft ordinance has to be sent to Union Home Ministry and on Centre's recommendation it has to be sent to the President for his approval," he said.

Also read: SC admits Centre's request, not to pass Jallikattu verdict for a week

After securing a Presidential order, Tamil Nadu Governor can issue an ordinance on the matter, he said, adding, he had asked his senior officials to liaison with their Central government counterparts on the matter by staying put in Delhi.

Panneerselvam sounded confident of seeing the matter through as he recalled the Prime Minster's assurance of support to any legal steps by his government to allow the bull taming sport in the state and said the ordinance will be issued in a day or two.

"As said by the Prime Minster, we will get full Central cooperation on this matter. So, with the ban about to be removed and Jallikattu likely in a day or two, I request the public, students and other organisations who have been protesting to withdraw their agitation," he said, flanked by among others, state Animal Husbandry Minister P Balakrishna Reddy.

Panneerselvam recalled the sustained efforts by his predecessor J Jayalalithaa as well as by himself with regard to the conduct of Jallikattu.

He said though the Centre had issued a notification last year for its conduct, various organisations had moved the Supreme Court which issued an interim stay even as it was yet to pronounce the verdict.

Massive protests continued for the fourth day at Chennai's Marina Beach, as schools and colleges across Tamil Nadu remained closed in support of the bull taming sport.

Oscar-winning Composer AR Rahman came out in support of Jallikattu and said he would be fasting today in solidarity with the cause. Five time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand said, "Jallikattu is a cultural symbol. Respect it. I'm all for animal rights but here that is not the point. Tradition and livelihood are."

Meanwhile, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar said, "I understand the sentiments of Tamil Nadu. Pongal is the biggest festival of Tamil Nadu. The second day of Pongal is celebrated with bulls and cows and for this they have maintained the bulls, respected the bulls from ages and they have protected the breed, the native breed of the bulls. I think we need to give proper representation to the court so that can give a fair hearing. Perhaps they have never imagined that it is such a popular game in Tamil Nadu."

On January 8 last year, the Centre had issued a notification lifting the ban on Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions.

The notification was challenged in the Supreme Court by the Animal Welfare Board of India, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, a Bangalore-based NGO and others.

Also read: Rajinikanth, Ajith join protest against Jallikattu ban at Nadigar Sangam

The apex court had questioned the Centre for its January 2016 notification allowing the use of bulls in events like Jallikattu, saying that its 2014 verdict banning the use of the animals cannot be "negated".

The court has reserved its verdict on a batch of petitions challenging the notification allowing the sport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday washed his hands off on the issue of bringing an ordinance to revoke the ban on Jallikattu, saying the case was pending in Supreme Court. But he said the Centre would be supportive of the steps taken by the Tamil Nadu Government. Panneerselvam is believed to have conveyed to Modi the “deep anguish” of the people of the state, as the sport was not held for the third consecutive year.

While “appreciating the cultural significance” of Jallikattu, Modi told the Chief Minister that the matter was present sub-judice. But the Prime Minister said, “The Centre would be supportive of the steps taken by the state government.”

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had said the state government has the power to enact a law to treat Jallikattu as a traditional sport, but cautioned that the animals should not be harmed or cruelly treated during such events.

Rohatgi, who defended in the Supreme Court the Centre's stand allowing use of bulls in events like Jallikattu, said that as far as sports is concerned, it is within the exclusive jurisdiction of respective state governments and the Centre has no power on it. "That is not a power with the Centre at all because the Constitution demarcates the role of the Centre and states...As far as sports are concerned, it is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the state," he said.

"Now the state could consider making it a law treating it as a traditional sport, but the state must keep in mind while framing such a law that there is no cruelty attached to the sport. It should not just be for sport without bothering about the plight of the animals. I mean, you have bull fights in Spain. Those are cases where bulls are killed," the top law officer said while talking to a news channel.

A strike call has been given by traders, truckers and taxi operators in Chennai. The opposition DMK, the Left and the VCK have planned rail blockade for the day, forcing the Southern Railway to divert several South-bound trains via alternate routes and cancellation and partial cancellation of a few other services.

Artistes and workers owing allegiance to the Film Employees Federation of South India have decided to fast and cinema halls have cancelled shows during day time.

The agitators continue to raise slogans against People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), though the NGO denies taking up the case originally, saying it only joined the issue at a later stage along with other like-minded bodies. It says the game is inherently cruel to animals, though protestors claim it is harmless.