Jallikattu: Centre looking for permanent solution, says Environment Min

PM Modi appreciated the sentiments and cultural values of jallikattu, Anil Madhav Dave said

The Centre wants a "permanent" solution to the jallikattu issue and the proposal submitted by the Tamil Nadu government is being vetted by various ministries after which a final decision will be taken within a "day or two", Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said on Friday.

"Today the Home Minister has received a proposal from Tamil Nadu government. The entire proposal is under consideration. Different ministries are giving a thought to it. The paper is on way to the Environment Ministry. I am sure within the shortest time we will be able to reach on the final decision," he told reporters.

He said that during the meeting of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam with Prime Minister yesterday, the latter had appreciated the sentiments and cultural values of different cultural sports particularly jallikattu.

Appreciating the patience of people of the state and the way the entire movement for jallikattu is being carried forward in a peaceful way, Dave said that the entire process should be done in a "thorough" manner and there should be no "lacuna".

Asked whether the Ministry is also thinking of excluding bulls from the list of animals prohibited from being exhibited or trained as performing animals, Dave said, "If (I) tell you everything now, what will be left for later."

"Paper (TN government proposal) is on way. The moment it will come, within the shortest time, it will be sent back to the Home Ministry (from our side). We are ready for that," he said.

"By today evening or tomorrow, we will able to reach on some conclusion where we can have concrete structure in front of the jallikattu lovers... Everything should be done constructively. Half heartedly it should not be done. We will be able to bring everything in front of you in the shortest possible time," he said.

Asked whether the Environment Ministry will amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Dave said that he had kept "all the cards close to him".

"We have waited for so long. Let us wait for a couple of days. Half picture or some curtain raiser may not lead to success. There must be proper protection of the cultural values of TN people and we are there with them. We are looking at a permanent solution," he said.

Without naming anybody, he, however, blamed the previous UPA government for including bulls in the list of animals prohibited from being exhibited or trained as performing animals.

"Nothing would have happened if in 2011 somebody had not put the name of bulls in the list of performing animals. We would not have been sitting here. It all started in 2011. That created the whole problem. Those who are asking xyz questions, they should know where they were at different moments," he said.

Dave said, "(Keeping) the sentiments of those who are in favour...Particularly I appreciate the patience and the way this entire movement is going on, we will be able to conclude it successfully. It is a matter of time. Time means not more than a day or two. The process should be adopted thoroughly and in a detailed manner. There should be no lacuna."

Nothing would be done "just for sensationalisation", he said.

Earlier in the day, 46 AIADMK MPs meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh to press for ordinance allowing jallikattu. AIADMK MP M Thambidurai said that Singh assured them that the file will be processed as early as possible so that ordinance can be promulgated in next two-three days.

The Tamil Nadu government will soon take steps for holding jallikattu event with the backing of the Centre, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had yesterday said after meeting the Prime Minister who had expressed the Centre's inability to promulgate an ordinance on the issue.

Protests demanding the lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport jallikattu has been spreading across Tamil Nadu and various celebrities and sports stars have backed the demand for lifting the ban on the traditional sport.