DMK can't claim credit for jallikattu revival, says TN Minister Nirmalkumar

CHENNAI: Law Minister R Nirmalkumar on Friday accused the previous DMK government of claiming credit for the revival of Jallikkattu and said the traditional sport had been treated like a gladiator event with a stadium built outside the town.

Nirmalkumar said the sport was restored following the spontaneous protest by students, but several political leaders were now claiming credit for its revival. “Jallikkattu returned because of the spontaneous protest by students. But everyone is now claiming that they were responsible for bringing it back,” he said.

Taking a dig at the DMK’s approach to the sport, he said, “They have treated Jallikkattu like a gladiator event and built a stadium outside the town. The pride of Jallikkattu lies in its being held in the respective villages. Is it a gladiator sport to be staged in a stadium?”

Nirmalkumar also alleged that cases were not registered in several incidents involving crimes against Dalits during the DMK regime.

“During the DMK government, cases were not registered in incidents involving crimes against Dalits. Even when a Minister allegedly assaulted a Scheduled Caste tehsildar, no case was registered,” he said.