No AWBI case against Tamil Nadu Jallikattu law: Nirmala Sitharaman

Chennai: Amid a raging controversy, Union commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said Animal Welfare Board of India has not filed any case in the Supreme Court challenging the Tamil Nadu-specific amendment to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

She also demanded that the allegations against policemen while dispersing the protesters on Monday last be investigated and stressed on action against those found guilty. Addressing a press conference here, the minister said there was no doubt that “anti-national and anti-social” elements had infiltrated into the “peaceful protests” at the Marina beach.

“Those who burn the national flag are certainly anti-nationals. No one will have any doubt on this. Certain elements at the protests also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a disparaging fashion. How can you target the Prime Minister in such a way? Prime Minister is an institution and the institution should always be respected,” she said.

The Union minister, while appreciating the statement made by top brass of Tamil Nadu government that action would be taken against men in khaki who erred, also demanded that the agencies identify people who indulged in “anti-national” activities and bring them to justice.

“There is no case (by the) Animal Welfare Board of India in the Supreme Court,” she said, when asked about contradictory reports about the case filed by the body in the apex court.

A day after the AWBI, statutory body under the Government of India, filed a case in the apex court, its secretary wrote a letter to the lawyer asking her to withdraw any case that has been filed.

To repeated questions about why the Union Government did not bring an ordinance instead of asking the state government to do so, Nirmal said the Centre could not have done since a case in this regard was pending in the Supreme Court. “The case is still pending before the Supreme Court. If the Centre had brought an ordinance, it would have amounted to disrespecting the court. And moreover the case is being heard currently (and draft of the verdict has been prepared),” she said.

The minister also punched holes in Congress’ statements that jallikattu was held till 2014 despite bulls being added to the list of performing animals and asked whether the national party was taking pride in violating the law. “In the first place, why did the Congress add bulls to the list of performing animals? First they add it and then break the law. Is it an achievement? Is this how a national party like Congress speak?” she asked.