Chennai: Republic Day festivities will be held on Kamarajar Salai as planned by the state administration even as dress rehearsals were kept off the venue due to jallikattu protests.
By convention, the Chief Minister would unfurl the tricolour from the secretariat — Fort St George — on Independence Day and would do the same at state police headquarters on Republic Day.
“The marathon stir continuing on the sands of Marina and on Kamarajar Salai had stoked uncertainty over the conduct of the festivity. With the promulgation of ordinance for jallikattu, the primary demand of the protesters to open Vaadivasal (the opening from which the bulls were let into play jallikattu) has been met.
The other contention of the protesters is the demand for a permanent fix. This is the permanent fix as the ordinance which is approved by the Centre has legal sanctity for the conduct of jallikattu. This will be placed before the Assembly in the ensuing session, and will be passed into a law. Therefore, there is no need to continue the protest”, a senior police officer said.
The rehearsals were conducted as per the schedule but in different venue.
“We still have got one more dress rehearsal which could be conducted in the venue. We have no intention of changing the traditional venue for the Republic Day. As planned, the CM will unfurl the tricolour here and will accept the guard of honour as per the protocol”, the officer added.
Until the time of going to Press, the protestors in the venue were deliberating among themselves seeking a permanent solution airing their apprehensions over the validity of the ordinance which the state is playing close to its chest.
On January 17, the city police had sent out a detailed presser on as to how the traffic arrangements which will be in force on Kamarajar Salai on January 19, 21, 24 and on Republic Day.
“The stretch of KamarajarSalai from Light House up to War Memorial will be closed for all the vehicular traffic from 6.00 am to 10.00 am”, the handout read.
The pompous parade will feature groups of uniformed personnel from the state police and from armed forces displaying their skills. They will be complemented by the other student formations from NCC and its allied groups.
