CHENNAI: What was supposed to be a silent protest turned into a vociferously united call against Peta at Marina Beach on Friday morning, with young people sloganeering against the NGO and shouting about the cultural importance of the traditional sport of Tamil Nadu. Hundreds of students and employees took part in the protest which was widely shared on social media.
Protestors formed a human chain screaming jallikattu nadathuvom and ‘Peta ku Tata’ for over two hours between 9 am and 11 am. An IT employee, Tamilselvi N, who came from Kerala said, “I had not informed my parents about participating in a human chain protest. But I am proud to take part in the agitation supporting jallikattu.”
Stating that the bull taming sport would have youth support, Arjun Nagu, a protestor who came from Tambaram, said, “We have understood the politics behind the jallikattu ban now. No one can stop us from it now. It is unfortunate that we have to face the strategic moves of Peta to conduct our ancient sport.”
Clad in black clothes and with banners and posters claiming support for jallikattu, Elavenil Goutham said, “It belongs to the first known culture in the world when a cow was tamed and worshipped.” Rubbishing the statement that a lion cannot be fought, Goutham added that it was once a part of our culture. He said, “There are many idols carved in temples and stories about how the lion was once fought by humans.”
PETA opposes any ordinance
Peta, writ petitioner in the case relating to jallikattu in Supreme Court, on Friday argued against any move to promulgate an ordinance to allow the sporting event, while asking the chief secretary and DGP of Tamil Nadu to ensure that the apex court ruling in complied in "letter and spirit".
In separate letters to President Pranab Mukherjee and Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals said issuing an ordinance to allow the spectacle may be considered unconstitutional and an inappropriate use of power.
In another letter written to chief secretary and DGP of Tamil Nadu, Peta said, "It is for you to ensure that these mandates and prohibitory sanctions are disseminated to all concerned throughout the state of Tamil Nadu.
"Any act of omission on your part that fails to put a stop to Jallikattu with immediate effect would be subversive of the rule of law and aggravate any such contempt, if committed," Peta CEO Poorva Joshipura said in the letter.
She also called upon the CS and DGP to comply in "letter and spirit" with the said rulings of the Supreme Court. "We - and doubtless, the Hon'ble Supreme Court - would not find acceptable any pretext that may be offered for any abdication of your constitutional and statutory duties and responsibilities vis a vis jallikattu," Ms Joshipura said.
PETA messes up with DGP's name
In a faux pass, Peta on Friday mentioned Ashok Kumar as the DGP of Tamil Nadu in its letter. While it addressed the letter to chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, who took charge only a fortnight ago, it got the DGP's name wrong. T. K. Rajendran was appointed as DGP (in-charge) in September after Mr Kumar opted for VRS.
