Govt hopes SC will do justice as TN presses for ordinance

With Tamil Nadu mounting pressure for promulgation of an ordinance to enable Jallikattu, the Centre today said though "things are ready" on its side, it will wait for the order of Supreme Court which it hoped will do justice so that people can celebrate festival as per tradition.
Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave who met a delegation led by Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha and AIADMK MP M Thambidurai regarding this issue also blamed the previous Congress-led UPA government for including bulls in the list of animals prohibited from being exhibited or trained as performing animals.
Dave asserted that there was no ill-treatment with the bulls during the performance of the sport and expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will look into all these aspects while giving its decision so that the people can celebrate their festivals.

"We being the government, we are just waiting for the Supreme Court's decision. What I feel is that we should request the Supreme Court to give its judgement, then the government can take any step. The government is ready even at midnight to do all these things.
"But all depends, as we are in a structured organisation. Parliament is supreme. But the court is also there. Therefore, it will be better that the moment the decision on the pending case comes, things are ready from our side. I am waiting for the decision desperately," Dave told reporters after meeting the delegation.

There has been a growing chorus for holding bull taming sport Jallikattu, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to consider promulgating an ordinance to enable the conduct of the sport.

While AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala wrote a letter to Modi today, noting that the ban on the bull taming sport had caused "resentment" in the state, a 27-member delegation led Thambidurai submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office in this regard.
The delegation stressed that it is wrong to wait for Supreme Court's ruling on the issue when the Centre is empowered to make any changes in the list of banned animals.

"I am sorry to say that somehow this problem arose only after 2011. The then Congress government included bulls in the list of animals that cannot be used as performing animals. We would not have included them," Dave said.
Later he tweeted, "The mother of problem is the Congress-led UPA government which included bulls in performing list in 2011."
Coming out in support of bull taming sport Jallikattu, students today staged demonstrations at many places across Tamil Nadu including in Madurai, where police used lathicharge to disperse protesters who tried to break barricades to enter the Collectorate.
The Supreme Court in November last had dismissed the plea of the state government, seeking review of its 2014 judgement banning use of bulls for Jallikattu events in the state.

However the apex court had reserved its order on a peitition challenging a notification by Centre in January last year that excluded bulls from the banned animals list, a PETA activist said.
After filmstar Kamal Hassan defended Jallikattu, saying all those who hate the bull sport should give up on biryani too, Dave had wondered why cognizance was not being taken when the sport is animal friendly and non violent.
"I am very sure that the Supreme Court will do justice and will give us a decision and we will be able to celebrate our festivals with full pleasure. But first we will have to wait till the Supreme Court gives its final judgement," he said.

Dave said that this is not only an issue related to one state but bullock cart race is part of cultural activity in Maharashtra. "One door will open and all the doors for traditional Indian sports will open. I am confident," he said.