Stir over jallikattu continues in TN -Governance Now

Stir over jallikattu continues in TN

Draft ordinance seeking amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act has been sent to MHA, says chief minister O Panneerselvam

Shivani Chaturvedi | January 20, 2017 | Chennai

#MHA #supreme court #Tamil Nadu #jallikattu

Protesters at Marina beach

Thousands of youth continue to gather at Chennai’s Marina beach in support of jallikattu, a traditional bull taming sport, in Tamil Nadu.

So far which looked like a students’ movement, is emerging as a mass movement including professionals. People from all sections are coming out in support of jallikattu. Agitation seems to be growing with every passing day. “We have come out to the streets to safeguard our culture,” says Dinesh, an IT professional who joined the protest after office hours.

Dinesh with another protester in support of jallikattu

Professor Ramu Manivannan, who teaches at Madras University says, “[The protest] is a manifestation of the anger against the centre and state government on several issues including Cauvery waters. Though it youth centric, it is no longer a students’ movement. Old and young are equally taking their anger to the streets.”

“We have asked political parties to keep away from the issue since they would try to take political gains from it,” says Selvaraj, a student. DMK workers held a ‘rail roko’ protest earlier in the day. MK Stalin, party leader, was taken into preventive custody for a brief period for halting a train during the party’s state-wide railway block, before being released. Auto-rickshaws with attached black flags saying “we want jallikattu” were seen on the streets all day.

In order to prevent further unrest in the state, supreme court has agreed to not pass any interim order for a week on jallikattu. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi had mentioned before the CJI court that jallikattu judgment should be deferred till next week as union and state governments are trying to solve the issue.

A Marx writer and activist who participated in the agitation, says, “It is also turning out to be a movement against the centre and prime minister Narendra Modi. In Puducherry at least five effigies of Modi were burnt by people supporting jallikattu”.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam had said that a draft ordinance seeking an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 has been sent to the ministry of home affairs (MHA), urging protesters to withdraw from Marina beach. “Tamil Nadu government has sent a draft of the amendment to MHA this morning. I believe draft will be approved in one or two days which will pave the way for jallikattu,” said Panneerselvam to news agencies.

Protesters near harbour custom house, Chennai

Comments

Other News

Cabinet approves museum at North-South Block complex

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday has approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum (YYBM) at the North and South Block Complex, New Delhi, at an estimated total project cost of ₹3,230 crore, as appraised by the Public Investmen

Cabinet approves extension of Noida metro corridor

The Union Cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, has approved the extension of Aqua Line Metro Rail Corridor from Noida Sector-51 to Greater Noida Sector-04 of Noida Metro Rail Project with corridor for a length of 8.449 km with 5 elevated stations. On operationalization of this corridor, Noid

India reaffirms commitment to climate multilateralism

India has reaffirmed its commitment to climate multilateralism and the principles of Equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), calling for a fair, equitable and ambitious outcome at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framewo

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through