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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Tamil Nadu urges Centre to ensure Jallikattu is held in January
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Tamil Nadu urges Centre to ensure Jallikattu is held in January

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have urged the Centre to bring amendments to ensure Jallikattu is held in January after the SC refused to lift the ban on the bull-taming sport

Jallikattu or ‘eruthazhuvuthal’ (bull-hugging) is usually conducted during the harvest festival Pongal in the Tamil month Thai, which coincides with January. AFPPremium
Jallikattu or ‘eruthazhuvuthal’ (bull-hugging) is usually conducted during the harvest festival Pongal in the Tamil month Thai, which coincides with January. AFP

Chennai: With the Supreme Court refusing to lift the ban on Jallikattu on Wednesday, political parties in Tamil Nadu have urged the Centre to bring amendments to ensure that the bull-taming sport is held in January.

The apex court on Wednesday dismissed the plea of the Tamil Nadu government seeking review of the 2014 judgment, which had banned the use of bulls for Jallikattu events in the state and bullock-cart races across the country.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R.F. Nariman rejected the state government’s review petition, filed in 2014 through its chief secretary, saying that it was illegal and unconstitutional as the taming of bulls for such an event amounted to “cruelty".

Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary R. Mutharasan said that in the history of Tamils, bulls were treated as a part of the family and “they are an integral part of the Tamil culture".

“Instead of banning it citing cruelty, the Centre should bring in due legal arrangements to ensure that the bulls are not ill-treated in any manner," he said in a statement.

The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has called the verdict disappointing and said that the “socio-cultural rural sport" Jallikattu has been conducted for centuries.

Jallikattu or eruthazhuvuthal (bull-hugging) is usually conducted during the harvest festival Pongal in the Tamil month Thai, which coincides with January.

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss on Wednesday said that the Supreme Court has failed to understand the tradition behind organising Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. “Only human beings have suffered injuries, not the bulls. There is no evidence to suggest, as the elite animal welfare groups allege that bulls are being fed drugs and alcohol or their eyes are sprinkled with irritants," said Ramadoss.

Last week, the Supreme Court said that it cannot allow “Roman gladiator-type sports in India" and questioned the Central government for coming out with a notification permitting bulls to be used for Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

While G. Ramakrishnan, state secretary of CPI(M), has urged the Centre to pass a law in the ongoing winter session to allow Jallikattu, Ramadoss blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for “double-dealing" with the issue.

Earlier on Monday, opposition leader and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) treasurer M.K. Stalin warned that his party will launch a huge protest if the Centre and state fail to take action in conducting Jallikattu.

BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan has reiterated that Jallikattu will be held in January and the Centre will take necessary actions in this regard.

The court in its 2014 judgment had said that bulls cannot be used as performing animals, either for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races across the country and declared Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009 as constitutionally void, being violative or Article 254(1) of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, a notification to allow the use of bulls in Jallikattu was brought by the Centre in January 2016, which was stayed by the Supreme Court. Further hearing on the validity of this notification is posted on 1 December.

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Published: 17 Nov 2016, 11:53 AM IST
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