Tamil Nadu issued an ordinance on Saturday to work around the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu. The ordinance was signed by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who arrived from Maharashtra in the evening.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act will be amended through the ordinance. The government is gearing up for the traditional bull-taming sport at Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniyapuram in Madurai district, with Chief Minister O Panneerselvam set to flag it off on Sunday.

However, not everyone is happy. Many protesters believe the solution is temporary, and are seeking a permanent law to protect the sport.

In an official statement, Panneerselvam said the ordinance was a “follow-up to the meeting” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 19.

The Tamil Nadu government had obtained “the necessary prior instructions of the President of India as envisaged under Article 213 of the Constitution”, the statement said.

The chief minister said an Act would be passed in the Assembly session, beginning January 23. Madurai district authorities said they were erecting barricades, galleries and enclosures for the medical inspection of bulls.

A senior official from the Madurai Corporation said that the sport would be played in keeping with the rules and regulations. “The bulls and the participants will have to undergo a series of medical tests before they take part in the event,” he said.

Police said security has been enhanced at the venues. “More than 10,000 police personnel will be deployed,” a senior policeman said. Panneerselvam will leave Chennai on Saturday night and reach Madurai on Sunday to inaugurate a Jallikattu event at Alanganallur.

Agitating Jallikattu supporters on Saturday said the ordinance was just a temporary fix.
“We want a permanent law to help us conduct Jallikattu every year. Until then, our protests will continue,” a protester said.

Thousands of youths continued to protest at Marina Beach in Chennai, the epicentre of the agitation for Jallikattu, for the fourth consecutive day.

Protests were also held in Madurai and other districts, seeking a ban on the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the organisation instrumental in moving the Supreme Court to ban Jallikattu.

Braving heavy rain, thousands of women and school students joined the demonstrations in Trichy.

Though agitators cheered when they heard that the Tamil Nadu Governor had signed an ordinance, they refused to disperse, dubbing it an “eyewash”.

“The ordinance is valid for only six months. We want a permanent law,” a protesting youth said. The Jallikattu row gained global attention on Saturday, as protests spread among the diaspora in the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Students blamed the Opposition DMK for conducting a rail roko on Friday and putting people to hardship.

“Our agitation is apolitical, peaceful, self-regulated and disciplined. We do not want any political party to support us by disturbing the people,” S Kumaresan, a law student, said at Marina Beach.
DH News Service