Parties, students, ryots join protest bandwagon

A situation of uncertainty regarding the conducting of jallikattu prevailed after Supreme Court refused to take up the case immediately and following that several political parties including DMK announced state-wide protests, on Friday. At Madurai protests were conducted in two places, one near Ambiga Theater and one at YOthakadai. 

During the protests slogans were raised condemning the central government for not taking steps to conduct jallikattu and to ban PETA. Similarly, three MLAs who had contested under the banner of AIADMK including Thameemun Ansari, Karunas and Thaniyarasu shared the stage in the protest for jallikattu at Madurai. During the protest Karunas claimed that the Union government had been continuously disrespecting the sentiments of Tamil people. 

In issues such as Cauvery river dispute, Tamil Nadu fishermen issue, Katchatheevu issue, jallikattu and so on the Union government does not care for the sentiments of people. If games like horse race are not banned why is jallikattu banned questioned Karunas. 

Similar protests were conducted by students at Madurai and Rameswaram. In Tiruchy, hundreds of farmers, youth and bull tamers took out a massive rally along with the bulls from Somarasampettai to the Collector office, demanding the state to enact special ordinance. The farmers participating in the rally said they would conduct jallikattu despite the Supreme Court ban as per schedule. 

“When Karnataka can disobey SC order on Cauvery River water issue, why we should abide the court order,” they asked. Meanwhile, the CPI cadre led by district secretary K Suresh blocked a train at Srirangam railway station on the issue on Friday.