Jaya writes to PM Modi, requests ordinance for conducting Jallikattu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promulgating an ordinance to enable the conduct of Jallikattu.

She said the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu, who have a deep attachment to the conduct of the traditional event, must be respected.

The letter comes in wake of the stay imposed on the Centre's notification allowing the bull taming sport.

"I had written to you on 22.12.2015, requesting you to arrange for the promulgation of an ordinance, to enable the holding of Jallikattu. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, had issued a Notification dated 7.1.2016, enabling the conduct of the traditional sport of Jallikattu in different parts of Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal festivities," Jayalalitha said in the letter.

"On receipt of the Notification, detailed circulars were sent to the District Collectors regarding arrangements to be made for the conduct of Jallikattu, strictly in accordance with the conditions and safeguards indicated in the Notification. On this basis arrangements have been made by organisers all over the State for the conduct of Jallikattu" she added.

She further said that the Supreme Court has today granted interim stay of the Notification of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, dated 7.1.2016 and therefore, Jallikattu cannot be conducted on the basis of this notification.

"With the Pongal festivities commencing from 14.1.2016, the public in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu have made all arrangements and preparations and are eagerly looking forward to the conduct of Jallikattu as part of the traditional festivities ingrained in the hoary cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu," she added.

"It is very important that the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu, who have a deep attachment to the conduct of the traditional event of Jallikattu, are respected," she said.

"Considering the urgency of the issue, I strongly reiterate my earlier request to the Government of India to promulgate an Ordinance forthwith to enable the conduct of Jallikattu. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu I urge you to take immediate action in this regard," she added.

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The Supreme Court earlier this afternoon stayed a Central Government notification that paved the way for a return of the banned bull taming sport, thereby effectively scuttling plans of staging the event during the Pongal celebrations in Tamil Nadu later this week.

The apex court also issued notices to the Centre, Tamil Nadu and other states where the controversial sport is played, days after the Environment Ministry issued new guidelines that permitted the popular event to go ahead, overriding protests from animal rights activists and the Law Ministry.