TIRUCHY: Jallikattu activist D Rajesh criticised the Chief Minister's employment announcement for the 'star' tamers this season as an election gimmick, and not to support the culture.

Speaking to reporters here, the founder of Tamilar Veera Vilayattu Kazhagam, Rajesh, expressed gratitude to the State for withdrawing mandatory insurance and online registration for tamers. He noted that CM Stalin's announcements, while inaugurating the Alanganallur event, including a state-of-the-art medical and training facility at an estimated Rs 2 crore and government employment to the best tamers, may be election gimmicks as there are less than two months before the poll.

"While there are hardly two months left for the government, the Chief Minister has made this announcement. It might be possible only when the DMK returns to power again. As the announcement is made in the wake of the assembly polls, it is just an election gimmick," Rajesh said.

He also pointed out that the DMK is yet to fulfil the promise of Rs 1,000 per month for jallikattu bull owners made in the election manifesto in 2021. "After coming to power, the government forgot the promise," he said.

He charged that there is no due importance given to the local organisers of jallikattu nowadays, and even the police are reluctant to provide proper security arrangements. "The online registration for jallikattu was misused by the ruling party," he claimed.

He also referred that the Tamilar Veera Vilayattu Meetpu Kazhagam approached the officials for organising jallikattu in Kiliyur, located in the home segment of Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi of Tiruverumbur, but they were denied permission. "While the permission was granted at Coimbatore, Karur and Erode, the traditional jallikattu regions like Tiruchy, Pudukkottai and Sivagangai were denied permission," said Rajesh.