Eyeing Tamil Nadu polls, Centre allows Jallikattu

Months ahead of the upcoming assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government has lifted the ban on popular bull taming festival Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping and BJP MP Pon Radhakrishnan said that the Central government is making arrangements to conduct Jallikattu in the state soon.

He said that the Central government is making arrangements to conduct Jallikattu in the state soon. Pon added that Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in a phone conversation confirmed the decision of the government.

Javadekar had earlier said that the 'good news' might be coming soon. "Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, bullock cart race in Maharashtra, Kambala in Karnataka and some sort of race using bullocks in Punjab has been traditionally and culturally practised for centuries. We want to respect that but also ensure that there should be no cruelty. Therefore, we will give you good news in the next couple of days. We will give you good news so that the cultural practice can be followed as well as cruelty should not happen to animals. We have found out some ways and will announce by January 1. The government is positive on the issue," Javadekar said.

Jallikattu also known Eruthazhuvuthal is a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day. The Supreme Court had banned using bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races across the country and directed governments and Animal Welfare Board of India to take steps to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.

Reacting to the order, PETA Director Dr Manilal said they will appeal against the order in the Supreme Court. "This is inherently cruel for animals. The government is using such an order as a publicity stunt. We will file a plea against the order," he said.

However, the DMK denied that the issue id being politicised. "This is no political issue, this is a cultural event. This is a heritage that should continue. There are SC guidelines and we will follow them," DMK leader Saravanann Annadurai said.