CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider passing an ordinance to ensure that Jallikattu (bull taming) sport is held as a part of the Pongal festivities across Tamil Nadu this year.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Modi today, Panneerselvam wrote, "Given that the Pongal festival which holds great importance to the people of Tamil Nadu is less than a week away and Jallikattu is an integral part of the Pongal festivities, considering the urgency of the issue, the Government of India should consider promulgating an Ordinance removing the legal impediments enabling the conduct of Jallikattu during Pongal, 2017."
In an apparent reference to most political parties in Tamil Nadu rallying behind the cause for ensuring the conduct of Jallikattu, Panneerselvam said in his letter "Considering the groundswell of sentiment and support for the conduct of Jallikattu all over Tamil Nadu, this is an issue on which the Government of India must act with maximum despatch. May I kindly request you to direct the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to take necessary action to promulgate the requisite Ordinance immediately?"
The Chief Minister in his letter pointed to the efforts taken by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa to ensure the conduct of the sport for the past two years.
Panneerselvam referring to the actions taken by the state and Centre government in the past said, "Based on the request (by late Jayalalithaa), the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climatic Change had issued a Notification... However, in view of the interim stay on the Notification ordered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 12.1.2016, Jallikattu could not be conducted during Pongal 2016 for the second year in succession."
The Review Petition which was filed by Government of Tamil Nadu on 19.5.2014 came up for hearing on 16.11.2016 in the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The Hon'ble Supreme Court was not inclined to review the judgement passed and dismissed the review petition filed by the State Government."
Emphasising the need to ensure that the sport may not be allowed to held for another year in succession, Panneerselvam noted "The ban on Jallikattu has caused widespread resentment and general disappointment among the people of Tamil Nadu, particularly in the rural areas, since Jallikattu is intertwined with the religious and social cultural ethos of Tamil society."
