Jallikattu row: Call off stir, say prime organisers

Chennai: The prime organisers behind the pro-jallikattu protests across the state on Sunday welcomed the ordinance promulgated by the state government with “adequate safeguards” to permanently hold jallikattu and asked the protesting students and youths to postpone the protest till March 31.

“Our request to the students and the youths is to postpone the protest till March 31. We request them with folded hands to the youths, women and children who were responsible for the unprecedented peaceful movement in the world to postpone it,” one of the organisers of the ongoing mass uprising Karthikeya Sivasenapathi, managing Trustee of Senaapathy Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, told reporters here. “If the ban was not permanently lifted, we shall protest again,” he said while appealing to the protesters. He attributed the success of the movement to the youths, students, women and children who came out in large numbers in favour of jallikattu.

Campaigners to file complaint against NGO
However, ‘Hip-Hop Tamizha’, Adhi, who has composed a Tamil track in support of jallikattu, expressed anxiety over a few elements with an agenda trying to hijack the mass movement.

“These anti social elements are coming out with religious and anti national demands. We don’t want youth and students community to fall prey for it. After all, their parents have brought them up well and have great dreams for them,” he said, explaining the reason for his video message posted in the social media to distance himself from the ongoing protest earlier in the day.

“Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has given a 500 per cent guarantee that nobody could dislodge this ordinance. It will be placed before the Assembly and enacted as a law tomorrow,” Rajesh, president of Veera Vilayatu Mitpu Kazhagam said. When asked what if the PETA moves the court against the new ordinance or law, he said that last time too the Supreme Court scrapped the 2009 state act to regulate jallikattu following the affidavit filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India. “This time it will not happen. Environment ministry has changed the AWBI chief and he will not file a petition against jallikattu. We were given such an assurance,” he said.

On the demand seeking ban on the PETA, Mr Sivasenapathi said he, along with other organisers, met union minister of state for Home affairs along with MoS Pon Radhakrishnan to urge him take action on the international NGO under the FRA act for using funds from foreign countries to eradicate the native cattle breeds in the country. “The minister has asked us to give a complaint against the NGO. We will follow it up,” he said.

Allaying the fears of the pro jallikattu protesters, K. R. Ambalatharasu of Jallikattu Protection Movement said that the ordinance promulgated by the state government would permanently help hold the jallikattu as it was drafted without any loopholes as per the Constitutional provisions. “Prime Minister advised the state to issue the ordinance since the President had expressed his views against the Centre often taking ordinance route for legislation,” he said.

P. Rajasekar of Jallikattu Padukappu Peravai demanded that the state government extend financial support to build double barricades in the villages as part of the safety measures to hold the bull taming sport.

“This time it will not happen. Environment ministry has changed the AWBI chief and he will not file a petition against jallikattu. We were given such an assurance,” he said.

“Prime Minister advised the state to issue the ordinance since the President had expressed his views against the Centre often taking ordinance route for legislation,” he said.