Chennai: The DMK will start the New Year with a protest demonstration on January 3 demanding steps by the Centre and the State to lift the ban on jallikattu, party treasurer M.K. Stalin said on Tuesday.
The protest would be held at Alanganallur, which is internationally famous for the traditional sport of Tamils. Recalling his earlier statement on December 18 that the DMK would hold protests if the Centre and state did not hold jallikattu on Pongal next year.
In 2015 itself, the Madurai district unit of the DMK had already announced a fast in Madurai on December 28 that year and all parties had been requested to join the fast.
But, the protest was postponed after Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan wrote a letter to DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, assuring that permission would be obtained for holding jallikattu.
The Union government passed an ordinance which was stayed by the Supreme Court, Stalin recalled and added that the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa expressed the opinion that the Centre should have issued a notification to hold jallikattu. The Supreme Court could not have stayed a notification she had said, the DMK treasurer noted.
Karunanidhi, in a statement on January 12, had demanded an amendment in the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals and allow the conduct of jallikattu. But, the central and state governments did not take steps to hold jallikattu, Stalin charged.
Stalin said he had consulted general secretary K. Anbazhagan on the issue and decided to lead a protest demonstration at Alanganallur on January 3. He also requested all the parties and outfits to participate in the protest.
