In a statement, he said that there was no bigger authoritarianism than the one suppressing a population’s cultural rights. “Jallikattu was banned in May, 2014. If the ruling AIADMK and the BJP-led Central government were serious about conducting the festival, they would have done it in one month. But both the governments showed no interest,” said Dr. Ramadoss.

He said that while review petition was filed in this case on May 19, 2014 12 days after the Supreme Court judgement, the State government did not ensure that the case came up for hearing in the next 18 months.

“The State government did not move a muscle. Bovines have to be removed from the list of banned animals and only then they can be used for entertainment. BJP leaders keep saying that jallikattu will be conducted next year for formality. Only an ordinance can help in this case,” he said. PMK youth wing leader AnbumaniRamadoss on Friday said that the staff and teachers at the Annamalai University must be paid their December salaries. “They haven’t celebrated the new year properly. The State government’s lack of urgency in this matter is appalling,” he said.