let the sport flourish, but ensure safety of all
The Tamil Nadu Government's promulgation of an Ordinance to pave the way for holding Jallikattu has been in keeping with the sentiments of the vast majority of Tamils who see the event as not just a sport but also an important part of their cultural tradition. Thousands of people thronged the streets and converged at the Marina beach in the State to demand the revival of Jallikattu and protest against the Supreme Court's ban on the sport. It became clear enough after the court's intervention that the issue would flare up, though few people, including the judges who had delivered the stay, must have known the massive proportion the protest would assume. Just how close the event is to the heart of millions of Tamils also became evident by the public endorsement it received from prominent personalities including film icons. If the apex court had believed that Jallikattu leads to cruelty to the bulls featuring in the sport, it could have laid down guidelines and directed the relevant district authorities to ensure that those directives were adhered to, and held the officials accountable for any deviation from them. It had intervened last year in the Dahi Handi ritual ahead of Janmashtami celebrations in Maharashtra, when it upheld a Bombay High Court ruling banning the participation of youth below the age of 18 in the event and restricting the height of the human pyramid to 20 feet. The decision had come after the State Government approached the court seeking clarity on the issue, following the High Court’s directive to the State regime to issue a circular providing details of the restrictions imposed. Although there was some criticism of the court order, it was by and large welcomed across sections of society because everyone realised the dangers the event posed to human lives. The apex court could have laid down similar directives in Jallikattu’s case. Had it done so, the protests would perhaps not have happened. But that apart, the recent shape the agitation has taken in the State is a cause of worry. There has been a sudden outbreak of violence. While at one level it's a law and order problem, the larger concern is that trouble-makers may have infiltrated the ranks of genuine protestors, and some of these anti-social elements may be anti-national in character. Intelligence officials have already red-flagged the matter. Those involved in the protests must understand the sensitivity of the situation and ensure that the issue is not blown out of proportion. They must allow the State administration to move ahead step by step, and not demand instant solutions.
Given the situation, it's not surprising that Jallikattu has become a political issue. The Opposition DMK is not lagging behind in milking the confrontation, targeting both the Modi Government and the O Panneerselvam-led State regime. The Congress too has latched on to the controversy, claiming it stands with the people of Tamil Nadu. But the ban on the sport had come during the Congress-led Government at the Centre in 2011, which comprised the DMK. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, then headed by Jairam Ramesh, had banned the use of bulls as performing animals. This naturally extended to Jallikattu and other animal-related events across the country.