Will keep people's sentiments in mind: Govt. on Jallikattu row

Attempting to pacify the ongoing protests in Tamil Nadu over the Jallikattu row, Environment Minister Anil Dave on Friday said the government wants to ensure that the sentiments of the people are respected and added that this matter would be solved in the shortest time possible.

Hinting at a possible amendment to the Prevention to Cruelty against Animals Act, Dave said, "In 2011, the bull was added in the list of performing animals. If they didn't do that, we wouldn't have been sitting here."

The sea of protesters continued to swell on the Marina beach in Chennai for the fourth day on Friday as supporters of Jallikattu staged their protest.

The Tamil Nadu Government has been repeatedly urging the Centre to issue an ordinance for the Jallikattu sport, which is held during the Tamil harvest festival Pongal.

The Supreme Court, which had banned the sport in 2014, today agreed not to pass any interim order for a week.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the matter before the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar.

"The Central Government and the state government are trying to solve the issue," Rohatgi told the apex court bench.

The submissions, which were made to the court by the Centre, were accepted by the apex court.

The apex court had earlier in its order banned Jallikattu by terming it as a 'cruelty' to the animal.

Urging the protestors to end their protest, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam has said that Jallikattu will return to the state in a couple of days through an ordinance or executive order that will be reviewed by President Pranab Mukherjee.