In an outburst of protests against the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu, thousands of youths all over Tamil Nadu came on to the streets on Wednesday demanding the immediate quashing of the ban on the traditional rural sport.
Though two Ministers in the TN Government deputed by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam held a round of discussions with the leaders of the demonstrators on Wednesday, the impasse continued as the agitators wanted at least a verbal assurance from the Chief Minister that he would persuade the Centre to get an Ordinance promulgated for conducting Jallikattu.
Faced with mounting anger on the streets, Panneerselvam decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday along with 49 MPs of the AIADMK to seek an Ordinance. The delegation will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee.
AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala also lent her support to the agitation and demanded that the Centre come out with an Ordinance allowing the sport.
However, the agitators refused to budge and the crowd consisting mostly of college students began to swell. By noon, more than 20,000 youths had gathered along the Marina Beach shouting slogans against the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.
The protesters were also unanimous in their demand to ban PETA, the NGO, which is waging a war against TN’s more than 1,000-year-old tradition.
Employees working in the Information Technology sector on Wednesday joined the agitation here by forming human chains and staging protests in the vicinity of their workplaces, including the city’s IT corridor on Rajiv Gandhi Salai.
Symbolic Jallikattu events, where bulls were let loose, were reported from Madurai, Sivaganga and Pattukottai.
Tension prevailed in Kandipatti Village in Sivaganga where Manju Virattu (bull chasing) was organised with 100 bulls. When police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the participants, the protesters allegedly attacked police with stones, damaging a police vehicle and reinforcements were sent to bring the situation under control.
At Pasukaranpatti in Madurai district, organisers released many bulls with prize money attached to their horns on the road leaving it to the youths to tame them and take the prize money. Similar events were held near Pattukottai in which 30 bulls participated.
Crowds continued to swell at Alanganallur and Tamukkam grounds in Madurai, the traditional base for the sport.
Tension prevailed at Tamukkam grounds as three students attempted to set themselves ablaze, which was foiled by police.
Protesters at Alanganallur demanded that the Centre issue an Ordinance to allow Jallikattu before 6 pm on Wednesday.
Seven activists of a pro-Tamil outfit climbed the historic Pamban railway bridge in Rameswaram and held a dharna. When they were removed by police, they threatened to jump into the sea and commit suicide if they were arrested.
“Though the court had banned Jallikattu in 2014, it was held with fanfare in 2015 and 2016. We are surprised over this year’s police action,” said Ramakrishnan Gautaman, a Chennai-based votary for the sport.
Political commentators pointed out that the warning issued by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that violation of the SC ban would lead to imposition of President’s Rule was the game changer.
GK Nagaraj, president, Kongunadu Jananayaga Katchi said his party held Jallikattu on Wednesday at Azhagumalai Village in Tiruppur defying the SC ban. “Ten thoroughbred bulls along with hundreds of desi gladiators took part in the event which was held peacefully,” said Nagaraj. He said here was no police action against the event.
“It is difficult for TN police to prevent such events as most of the villages are in remote areas. You may have to deploy paramilitary forces to enforce the court ban,” said a senior police official.
The show of protest which stood out due to the anti-India and anti-Modi slogans was by and large peaceful. According to Intelligence officials, the demonstrations in southern TN were led and supported by various left and Tamil-chauvinist organisations. “But the protesters were careful not to raise the names of any of these outfits,” said a Special Branch official from the districts.
“This has been proved by the slogans against RSS and the BJP heard in this agitation. It was a Sri lankan Tamil by name Muraleedharan Sivalingam who managed and mobilised the crowd of demonstrartions through the social media,” said one of the campaigners against Jallikattu.