Madurai: Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Peravai President P. Rajasekaran on Thursday launched the final round of “One District One Lakh Signature Campaign” to mobilise the people's support to urge the central government to enact special law to lift the ban against jallikattu. “We hope the Central Government would pass a special legislation in the upcoming winter parliament session to remove the ban against jallikattu. We are eagerly waiting for the conduct of the bull-taming sport during Pongal next year,” said Rajasekaran after launching the campaign. The State Government also been impressing upon the Central Government on this, he added.
The volunteers of Yeru Yeru, a organisation floated by youth to mobilise support through a signature campaign, have completed their first round in eight districts including Chennai, Salem, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Sivaganga in the last two months. “People from all walks of life have expressed their solidarity to preserve this ancient sport,” said B.Prakash, pharmacist from Madurai who took two months' leave to participate in the campaign.
College students from across the state have activity participated in the campaign to help the movement garner support from the film fraternity, police and corporate employees. “Police officials from senior level have volunteered to sign the forms,” said Prakash, who rears seven bulls. Ranjith, IT professional, has also taken two months' leave from his company in Bengaluru to participate in the campaign.
“This movement is aimed at preserving the ancient Tamil sport which is associated with temple rituals and rural culture,” said Ranjith, also a bull tamer. The volunteers of Yeru Yeru would cover the southern districts in next ten days. They would finally submit the signatures they have obtained from people in support of jallikattu to the Central government before thge Winter session.
