DMK taunts BJP's "dubious" stand on Jallikattu

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led NDA government was adopting a dubious stand on the issue of Jallikattu, a traditional event held in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations.

"It is a dubious stand taken by the BJP as Tamil Nadu state BJP president says Jallikattu will come but the government at the Centre is acting in a different way," DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan told ANI here.

"Court says what the law interprets and accordingly they decide on any case, merit of the case depends on the law. If law is not permitting Jallikattu then how can the court permit? The BJP is playing double game in the matter," he said.

"They should take proper steps so that traditional games are allowed to be played," he added.

Elangovan further said that the Tamil Nadu Government should raise the issue of Jallikattu in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

Asking why bulls should be made to suffer for the entertainment of humans, the Supreme Court yesterday pulled up the Centre for trying to "import a Roman-type gladiator sport" despite a judgment clearly banning Jallikattu as a cruelty and crime to animals.

"Can bulls be contemplated for entertainment of human mind? Bulls are supposed to rest, why should they race," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Rohinton Nariman tested the legality of the Centre's January 7 notification permitting Jallikattu.

The court called for compassion to animals, saying it was our constitutional obligation, while posting the matter for further hearing on November 16.

In defence of the festival, the Tamil Nadu Government highlighted how there was nothing wrong in farmers practising Jallikattu in the semi-arid regions of the state if the Spanish Senate could in 2013 declare the "far more cruel" sport of bull-fighting a cultural heritage.