‘Think PETA is misinformed about jallikattu’

“The main reason why PETA and others want to put a ban on this traditional practice (jallikattu) is that they say it’s cruelty to animals,” said Vetrimaaran. “If this is the priority to stop this practice, then I think they are misinformed as every year because of India’s biggest festival, not just one breed called bulls, but every living creature is killed and lost and that’s Diwali. 

“If they are really concerned about the welfare of animals, then they should ban crackers. If they are really concerned about the eco-system, then they should know that every year so much of toxic material is dumped into the sea during Ganesh Chaturthi, so they should stop that,” he added. Vetrimaaran went on to add that people are “just responding to what they see on some video clips, where someone is torturing the bulls”. 

“If that happens, then that need to be stopped, I don’t deny that. But these are ethnic identities which go deeper into a person’s psyche and when that is threatened and denied, it puts in a lot of pressure on the whole community. It’s not about one act, it’s about the community. “That’s why so many youngsters, who didn’t belong to any political party, gathering in Chennai and supported it. I feel this practice should continue,” he added.