DMK plans stir for jallikattu across Tamil Nadu

MK Stalin on Thursday urged the Centre and state governments to remove the ban on ‘Jallikattu’ and warned that he would lead a protest unless they took steps to enable the bull-taming sport to be held during Pongal in January. “If the Centre and state don’t take steps for removing the ban and hold jallikattu during coming Pongal, I myself will lead a struggle against this after seeking approval from (DMK President) Kalaignar (Karunanidhi),” he said in a statement on social media. 

Supreme Court had last year banned jallikattu, bull races, bull-fights and other uses of bulls in performances. but there have been widespread demands in the state, especially in the southern districts, that the Centre make adequate amendments to ensure that the sport is introduced again in the year 2016. 

Supporters of ‘jallikattu,’ organised to coincide with the Tamil harvest festival of Pongal, have been defending it on the grounds that it is a sport of bravery and reflective of the local tradition.