Stalin warns of agitation if government fails to permit Jallikattu

Talking to reporters at the airport here, DMK treasurer and Leader of the Opposition in Assembly MK Stalin said if the Central and the state governments did not create a conducive atmosphere to hold the event this time, the DMK, after getting the permission from party chief M Karunanidhi, would definitely stage a massive agitation. When asked whether the DMK would launch an agitation since no announcement had come on holding jallikattu this time in January 2017, Stalin said the media should ask about this to Union Minister Pon Radhakrishan and BJP state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan, who have been stating that the Centre will take all steps to hold jallikattu in January 2017. 

“If the Central and the state governments did not create an atmosphere for holding the event this time, the DMK will definitely launch a massive agitation,’’ he added. No Pongal festivities are complete without jallikattu, being held in southern districts of Tamil Nadu. For this sport of bravery, a specific breed of cattle is reared and the youth display their courage by taming it. Perhaps, for the second successive year in recent history, the sport could not be held this year following a ban imposed by the Supreme Court due to objections raised by the Animal Welfare Board of India and other animal welfare organisations citing cruelty being caused to the bulls. 

Since then various political parties and organisations were repeatedly urging the Union and the state governments to take steps to hold the event this time. Even the state has dashed off several letters to Prime Minister on the issue. Political party leaders urged the Centre to bring in an Act in the ongoing winter session of Parliament or bring in amendments to the existing Act to ensure that jallikattu was conducted this time.