Pro-jallikattu protests pick up pace

The jallikattu enthusiasts, under the banner of Jallikattu Rescue and Coordination Committee, staged the fast at the road leading to Vaadi Vasal at Alanganallur. They claimed that jallikattu is not just a game but it symbolises the rich tradition of Tamil people. 

Umamaheshwaran, one of the organisers, claimed that Tamil poet Tirugnanasambandhar in his poem had written about jallikattu and how it occupied an important place in the history and culture of Tamil people. He also claimed that those who seek ban on jallikattu see bull as an animal but they see bull as God. 

“In all the Siva temples there would be bull and it is worshiped as God. The motive behind organisations seeking ban on jallikattu is to send the country breed of bulls to slaughter house and to replace them with foreign breeds. The organisations seeking ban on jallikattu turn a blind eye towards horse race where really the horses were tortured,” claimed Umamaheshwaran. 

Moorthy, MLA of Madurai East constituency, who was the special guest for the fast, claimed that DMK chief M Karunanidhi, had voiced support continuously for jallikattu and even the party Treasurer MK Stalin, had called for a protest on January 3. 

The state and Centre should take steps to conduct jallikattu, he said and expressed his faith that jallikattu would be held this time.  Earlier, a CD containing songs on ‘Manjuvirattu’ composed by Gnanasakthivel was released. Large number of women and children participated. On Friday, the enthusiasts had decided to organise a large pooja and homam for the conduct of jallikattu.