Pro-jallikattu protestors stage demo in Tamil Nadu

Venting disappointment over not being allowed to conduct bull-taming sport jallikattu, around 5,000 people, including bull owners and tamers, today staged a demonstration near Alanganallur, a popular venue for the event, raising slogans against animal rights body PETA.
Holding black flags, the protesters, including hundreds of women, staged the demonstration near the 'vadi vasal', the passage through which bulls get into the jallikattu arena, police said.
Earlier, they took out a rally and staged a mock funeral procession of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), one of the petitioners on whose plea the Supreme Court last week stayed a central government notification allowing jallikattu, a popular event staged in rural areas during Pongal festivities between January 14-17, they said.

All shops in Allanganallur remained closed while police personnel were deployed in strength in the village, which used to attract a large number of spectators, including foreign tourists for the sport when it was held.
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Meanwhile, members of the four-party People's Welfare Front, comprising MDMK, VCK, CPI and CPI(M), staged a fast here demanding removal of the ban on jallikattu.

MDMK chief Vaiko, state CPI Secretary Mutharasan and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan were among those who participated in the fast.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Vaiko accused the NDA government of having cheated the people by issuing the notification which had been stayed.

He also criticised the AIADMK MPs for not raising the issue in Parliament and said both the Centre and the Jayalalithaa government in the state should take responsibility for their "failure" to allow conduct of jallikattu.
Tirumavalavan also echoed similar views and the leaders said their agiations for saving jallikattu would continue.
A report from Nagapattinam said a demonstration was staged in Thirukadaiyur over the cancellation of bullock cart race subsequent to the Supreme Court stay.
Hundreds of jockeys and members of public took part in the demonstration in the town, where the bullock cart race had been a popular event of Pongal festival for 40 years.

More than 100 bullock carts and 50 horse carts from Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli and Cuddalore used to participate in theracewhich covers a distance of 10-km from Thirukkadaiyur to Tharangambadi.
Preparations were made for conducting the race in view of the Central notification, but it had to be cancelled following the Supreme Court stay.
A large number of police personnel were deployed in the town under the supervision of Sirkazhi DSP Venkatesan as a precautionary measure, police said.