Protests force CM to leave without inaugurating jallikattu

Jallikattu was conducted in various parts of Tamil Nadu today even as protests continued at Alanganallur in Madurai where people refused to hold the famous sport seeking a "permanent solution", forcing chief Minister O Panneerselvam to leave for Chennai without inaugurating it.
Panneerselvam had yesterday said he would inaugurate the bull taming sport at Alanganallur, famous for holding jallikattu events, at 10 AM.
Groups of protesters continued to stay put at several locations in the state, including the Marina Beach at Chennai, epicentre of the stir for the last six days. The protesters are seeking a permanent solution for holding the sport, besides a ban on animal rights group PETA.

As protesters demanded a permanent solution for holding the sport and raised slogans that ordinance was only a temporary measure, Panneerselvam said: the "State's jallikattu ordinance route is permanent, robust and sustainable, will be made into a law in the coming Assembly session."
He reiterated that there was no ban following the promulgation of the ordinance.
The Chief Minister said the ordinance will be replaced by a law after bringing in a bill in the Assembly session, beginning at Chennai tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters at Madurai before leaving for Chennai, Panneerselvam said,"The ban on jallikattu has been removed completely, the sport will be held at Alanganallur, on a date decided by local people."

He said jallikattu was held in all parts of Tamil Nadu with the local adminstration and police taking all stipulated measures to hold the sport.
Continuing blockades and agitations here at Alanganallur and Tamukkam grounds, besides neighbouring Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul, put a question mark over Panneerselvam inaugurating jallikattu.
Panneerselvam, who had announced that he would inaugurate jallikattu at Alanganallur, had to stay back in a hotel here following the stir there by protesters who demanded a permanent measure to be in place.
At Alanganallur, protesters declined to hold the sport by
blocking the entry and exit points of the sprawling sporting arena.

A group of organisers had removed the bulls from the arena as well.
Tension prevailed in Manojipatti village near Thanjavur when villagers refused to conduct jallikattu. They placed barricades en route to the venue where Agriculture Minister Duraikannu is expected to inaugurate it.
At Pudukottai, jallikattu was inaugurated by Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar.
In Thanjavur, nearly 500 youths reportedly picketed a passenger train from Mayiladuthurai to Tirunelvelli at Kumbakonam as part of the protest.
Kangeyam cattle research centre president Karthikeya Senathipathy in a Facebook post appealed to the youths to end the stir as an ordinance has been promulgated for holding the bull taming sport.

The inauguration of the 'Rekla Race' (Ox cart race), popular in Western parts of Tamil Nadu, at Coimbatore witnessed protests from students demanding a permanent solution for holding of jallikattu.
Even as the race was flagged-off by state Local Administration Minister S P Velumani, a large number of students arrived at Codisia Grounds, venue of Rekla race, and staged a sit-in on the premises.
Speaking to reporters, Velumani said some "vested interests" were trying to create confusion among the students about the ordinance.
The students said they will "allow the race" to be held only after, what they called a "permanent solution", was in sight.

Jallikattu was banned following a Supreme Court order in May 2014.