Jallikattu ban News

The Supreme Court in 2014 had banned Jallikattu after a plea was filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). But the state government insisted that the bull-taming sport was a crucial part of its culture and identity.

Veteran actor Kamal Hassan addressed the media in Chennai on Tuesday to express his views on the issue of Jallikattu.

Protests have been taking place in the city since more than a week now against the ban on the popular and ancient bull-taming sport by the Supreme Court.

With traders downing shutters following a bandh call against jallikattu ban, employees of information technology, banks and other commercial establishments today staged a protest here expressing their solidarity to the cause.

He also welcomed the protesters' assertion that their agitation would continue till jallikattu was held.  

Asked whether a legislation was the right way as it would set a precedent and people would demand revocation of ban on other similar sport, he said legislation is the "felt need of the society".

He said that during the meeting of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam with Prime Minister yesterday, the latter had appreciated the sentiments and cultural values of different cultural sports particularly jallikattu.

The court cannot issue such a direction," the bench, comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M Sundar said while hearing a petition by K K Ramesh, Managing Trustee of Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation.

Ban on Jallikattu and Kodipandem is an attack on Dravida culture and its integrity. This is how it is being viewed in Dakshin Hindustan.

The MPs, led by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, requested the Home Minister to intervene to ensure promulgation of an ordinance to end the ban on the conduct of Jallikattu.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court agreed not to pronounce its verdict on Jallikattu for a week in the wake of largescale protests in Tamil Nadu against the ban on the bull-taming sport.

The Tamil Nadu government has been repeatedly urging the Centre to issue an ordinance for the Jallikattu sport, which is held during the Tamil harvest festival Pongal.

Tamil Nadu is all set for a shutdown on Friday.

Protests have been taking place in Chennai since Monday against the ban on the popular and ancient bull-taming sport by the Supreme Court.

Chennai/New Delhi: Protests demanding jallikattu swelled on the streets of Tamil Nadu on Thursday after agitators rejected statements by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.

PETA on Thursday made a fresh appeal to lawmakers urging them not to encourage a tradition which causes unnecessary pain to an animal.

The protestors are also venting their anger against PETA for its strident opposition to the bull-taming sport associated with the Pongal harvest festivities.

Targeted by pro-Jallikattu groups for her association with animal rights group PETA which opposes the bull taming sport, actress Trisha today said she has never spoken against Jallikattu.

Days after south superstar Kamal Haasan openly batted for Jallikattu, Thalaiva Rajinikanth too has spoken in favour of the traditional bull taming sport. 

The Supreme Court of India in May 2014 banned the practice of Jallikattu citing animal welfare issues. Jallikattu is an event celebrated in Tamil Nadu on Pongal where the bull is controlled. It is the part of Maatu Pongal day celebrations. Bulls are bred specifically by people of the village for the event. A temple bull is like the head of all cattle in a village; special rituals will be performed for this temple bull during important days.