Chennai: Tamil Nadu political parties are mounting pressure on the Narendra Modi regime to promulgate an ordinance to ensure the conduct of jallikattu this Pongal. The show solidarity from the state polity comes in the wake of the Supreme Court staying the recent notification of the Centre allowing the conduct of the sport.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who was among the first to seek the Centre’s immediate intervention in the matter, said in her letter to Prime Minister Modi, “It is very important that the sentiments of the people of TN who have a deep attachment to the conduct of the traditional event of Jallikattu are respected.”
Also referring to the January 7 notification of the union environment ministry enabling the conduct of jallikattu in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal festivities, she said, “I had written to you on 22.12.2015, requesting you to take steps to promulgating an ordinance to enable the holding of Jallikattu.”
Drawing the PM’s attention to elaborate arrangements being made by Jallikattu organisers across Tamil Nadu after she had issued detailed circulars to district collectors in this regard, Jayalalithaa said the people in rural areas are eagerly looking forward to the conduct of jallikattu as part of the traditional festivities ingrained in the hoary cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu.
“Hence, considering the urgency of the issue, I strongly reiterate my earlier request to the Central Government to promulgate an Ordinance to enable the conduct of Jallikattu. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu I urge you to take immediate action in this regard,” she added.
DMK president M Karunanidhi expressed the hope that the Centre would respect Tamil sentiments and accede to their requests to promulgate an ordinance.
PMK founder Dr Ramadoss and MDMK general secretary Vaiko also made similar demands.
Assault on Tamil sentiment: Tamil people
Madurai /Coimbatore: A pall of gloom descended on the villages in and around Madurai, which were preparing for the conduct of jallikattu with renewed vigor and enthusiasm after the January 7 notification by the Centre allowing jallikattu and rekla races.
Bull tamer Mani attempted to set himself on fire near the Vaadivasal through which the bulls would be released in the famous Alanganallur jallikattu but the villagers prevented him. “Jallikattu is our soul, why is the apex court refusing to understand this?” asked the youths near the incident spot.
The village of Koolaimedu in western Tamil Nadu, near Coimbatore, “mourned” the top court’s stay order on jallikattu, hoisting black flags on the streets in protest.
The opinion was near universal across the state that the stay order was an assault on the sentiments of all the Tamil people.
