Alanganallur jallikattu supporters lash out at PETA

Hundreds of people, including Jallikattu enthusiasts and bull tamers staged a massive Black Flag demonstration to condemn the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA-India) and the Animals Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for their key-role on the ban on jallikattu (bull taming) and demanding lifting of the ban on the events at Alanganallur village, here today. 

The irate protesters carried an effigy portraying it as PETA and conducted a mock funeral procession. Later, they hit the effigy with sticks and foot wears to express their protest against the animal rights organisations. Women drew black coloured kolams in front of their houses and staged a protest by singing an oppari (a folk song sung during a death ceremony) in front of vadivasal (the traditional narrow entrance through which the bulls were unleashed one by one during jallikattu events) as a mark of protest. 

All the shops and commercial establishments downed their shutters, while the people tied black flags atop their houses in the village. The jallikattu event was scheduled to be held at Alanganallur today, but however it was not conducted due to Supreme Court (SC) ban. In view of tense situation, about 600 policemen were deployed along with Quick Reaction teams in the village to prevent any untoward incidents. 

Meanwhile, the activists of People’s Welfare Front (PWF) began a day-long fasting agitation demanding lifting of ban on jallikattu at  Obulapadithurai locality in Madurai, this morning.  MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan, CPM State Secretary G Ramakrishnan among several others were observed the fasting agitation. 

The SC on January 12 stayed the notification issued by Centre, lifting ban on Jallikattu events during the Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu, after the notification was challenged by PETA, AWBI and a Bengaluru-based NGO, triggering sporadic protests across the State.