The debate on whether Tamil Nadu should maintain the ban on a bull-taming sport- Jallikattu is far from being over. Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave said on Tuesday that a stand on the issue will be taken, once the matter is decided by the Supreme Court while hoping that the apex court will take into account the sentiments of the society.
His statement came a day after Tamil Nadu government approached the Ministry to consider promulgation of an ordinance that enables the continuation of the traditional sport. Adding to the chorus, actor Kamal Hassan further defended Jallikattu, saying “all those who hate the bull sport should give up Biryani too.”
In a press-meet Dave clarified, “the matter should be looked into carefully, especially when there is no violence involved in the sport and it has been a tradition of a society”.
The Supreme Court is seized with a petition filed by the Animal welfare board challenging the legality of an ordinance by the Centre, allowing holding of Jallikattu. The Court had stayed the ordinance but the final decision is awaited. The Centre brought the ordinance after the court struck down jallikattu as illegal. Dave assured, “The moment its decision comes through-- tomorrow or day after tomorrow, we will take our stand and go ahead,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, had written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Anil Madhav Dave emphasising that with Pongal approaching on January 14, it is time for the Centre to consider the urgency of the situation. Jallikattu is an integral part of the festivities and that an ordinance should be promulgated in this regard, to remove the legal impediments.
Dave said that this problem arose in 2011 when the UPA government included bulls in the list of animals prohibited from being exhibited or trained as performing animals.”In 2016, we have made it very clear to the Court that we want to particularly deduct bull from the list. In a country like India where emotion and culture plays a vital role in the making of a society, the sport is certainly not professionally or materialistically driven,” said Dave.
In another development, the Ministry has framed draft rules of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules), 2016.
The objective of the Rules is to make dog breeders and their selling more accountable to prevent infliction of any cruelty in this process. Despite mushrooming of dog breeders and sale of exotic dog species, there were no specific rules, or guidelines for mandatory registration of breeders and establishments and requirements to be met by such breeders. Comments have been sought by the Ministry on the draft, prior to notification.