Discipline, the mantra behind their victory

Children were seen marching on arterial roads wearing black clothes and raising slogans against PETA and the Supreme Court. In certain areas, entire families sat on the streets and raised slogans against the ban.  

By evening, all roads led to Marina as mini-lorries, autorickshaws, two-wheelers and cars carried enthusiastic supporters towards the epicentre of the protests. The protesters, mostly clad in black, were seen wearing helmets with horns and masks depicting bulls. They also carried banners demanding the government to lift the ban on jallikattu and ban the animal welfare organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). 

Over two lakh people assembled at the Marina which caused the protest to spread to adjacent streets. Everyone joined hands to ‘protect the sport that is part of Tamil culture’ and raised slogans against PETA which they believed was instrumental in bring in the ban. 

When city police put out a message congratulating the protesters for the ‘extra-ordinary calm’ and co-operation in traffic regulation it came as a rarely seen camaraderie between the police and the protesting public. The protesters continued to be responsible in their behaviour, despite the record crowd, and managed to carry on with their cause peacefully. They helped motorists push through the little space available on roads and religiously picked the litter, to keep the beach clean. 

“This is the largest crowd I have ever seen in Tamil Nadu for any protest. I am here with my family and that is because we all are moved by the energy and conviction of these youngsters and feel that it would be a crime on our part if we do not extend our support,” Palanisamy, a 54-yearold man from Vyasarpadi said. 

Unlike the initial days, the police presence at Marina was reduced considerably and there were hardly any police personnel at the protest site on Friday. Even those who were available at the beach, stood as spectators as there was very little they could do when the streets were flooded with the protesters. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA) led a dharna seeking the lifting of the ban on jallikattu, at the TNGDA office on Madras Medical College Hospital campus on Friday morning. As many as 300 people participated in the ban, including members of the Indian Medical Association and medical students from MMC, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital. 

Speaking to DTNext, Dr P Balakrishnan, state secretary, TNGDA, said, “We had three points to make in the dharna on Friday, we request the Supreme Court to take suo-moto action against the ban and ban PETA. We also demand the State and Central governments to pass the special ordinance and conduct jallikattu this year.

With traders, bus operators and other agencies deciding to shut shop in support of the protest against jallikattu ban, Chennai came to a standstill.

The city experienced very limited public transportation services on Friday. Even Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses reduced the number of vehicles that were plying as most of the unions supported the protest. Most shop owners chose to shut shop in support of the protest. Except for the protesters at Marina, all others in the city found it difficult to buy even a bottle of water. Chennai usually defies bandhs organised by political parties and most services would operate unaffected. In the past, the city has even defied bandhs that were announced by the ruling party. However, on Friday things took a different turn as the shop owners and private bus operators decided to support the protest. 

“Usually during bandhs, a few owners would shut shop to not invite the wrath of local political leaders. But today, we wholeheartedly shut our shops, not due to fear of anyone but because we fully support the protest,” Anbu, a roadside vendor near Triplicane said. The protest by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) men took a toll on train services to the city. However, most of the MRTS and suburban train services remained unaffected.

“Most of the MTC services were off the road as workers of several trade unions did not turn up for work. Many of them headed to Marina to participate in the protest,” a police official said. Though some autorickshaws and share autos (‘Ape’) were plying, a majority of them had been hired by those who were heading to the Marina and other parts where protests were staged on Friday. Passengers were seen carrying placards and banners declaring their support for jallikattu and demanding to ban PETA. 

Petrol pumps and other essential services functioned as usual. As most of the schools and colleges remained closed, students marched to Marina in hordes to join the agitation. With restaurants and eateries in the city downing shutters to express their solidarity with protesters, public had a tough time in getting food. Mobile utility applications like Swiggy had also suspended their operations from morning to evening, due to non-availability of restaurants. 

The one-day boycott call given by almost all advocates association in support of the widespread protests in Tamil Nadu for Jallikattu on Friday was near total. Headed by the Madras Bar Association (MBA) and Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA), the lower courts across the State presented a deserted picture. At the Madras High Court, advocates staged a demonstration before marching to Marina, which has become the epicenter of the protests.