Jallikattu: TN CM urges Centre to promulgate ordinance

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to promulgate an ordinance to resume the sport Jallikattu on Pongal this year.

With a view for animal welfare, the Supreme Court on May 2014 banned the bull fighting sport.

Panneerselvam in his letter said asserted that taking in count the groundswell of sentiment and support for the conduct of Jallikattu all over Tamil Nadu, the government of India must act with maximum despatch."

"Given that Pongal festival, which holds great importance to the people of Tamil Nadu, is less than a week away and Jallikattu is an integral part of the Pongal festivities, considering the urgency of the issue, Government of India should consider promulgating an ordinance removing the legal impediments, enabling the conduct of Jallikattu during Pongal, 2017," he said in the letter.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also added that even late state chief Jayalalithaa had put forth a demand to the Prime Minister Modi that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests "should clearly de-notify bulls as performing animals from a 2011 notification by the Ministry.

The other demand was to "suitably amend Section 11(3) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 by introducing a new clause 'f' in sub-section (3) of Section 11 specifically exempting Jallikattu in addition to other exemptions already provided in the Act," he said.

The Supreme Court in November last year had dismissed the plea of the Tamil Nadu government, seeking review of its 2014 judgement banning use of bulls for jallikattu events in the state.