Post ban violation, activists demand President rule in Tamil Nadu

In a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the activists said, “We request the central government to direct the state government to implement the law.”

“In the event that there is a continuing disregard to the law, we beseech you to exercise powers under Article 356 of the Constitution and ensure that the situation is taken under control and the law of the land is given the respect it deserves,” it said. The demand came after the SC refused to pass before the harvest festival of Pongal on Saturday its judgement on a batch of petitions challenging the Centre’s notification in January, 2016, allowing the use of bulls in events like jallikat tu. 

The SC had earlier put a stay on the notification. The letter has been written by N G Jayasimha, member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and Managing Director of Humane Society International (HSI), and Gauri Maulekhi, Trustee at People for Animal (PFA), who are among the petitioners against the Centre’s notification. Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy also made the demand of imposition of President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu in case the state failed to enforce the ban on jallikattu. 

Swamy tweeted, “If jallikattu is held without awaiting SC judgment permitting it and Tamil Nadu Govt fails to enforce the law, Centre must declare President’s Rule.” These appeals follow media reports of jallikattu being held in Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu too has said that he will “ensure that jallikattu is held and will not back off even a bit.”