By Anirudh Singla
[su_pullquote]Owing to the unrest in Tamil Nadu, the Honourable Supreme Court has not yet passed any judgement pertaining to the ban.[/su_pullquote]
Thousands of young people camped on Chennais Marina Beach, unshaken on their stance on the ban on Jallikattu. Frontiered by students, the shoreline was crowded by lawyers, actors, artists and IT Professionals. With growing numbers that seem to be an impact of skillful leverage of social media, its tough to predict the sustenance of the ban. The Centre cleared the ordinance on Jallikattu on Friday after getting the required approvals from the ministries of home, law and environment, forests and climate change. Waiting for approval from President Pranab Mukherjee after the ordinance was sent to him, there is some hope for the matter. The Honourable Supreme Court (SC) had agreed to the Union Government’s request to not pass a judgement on this pressing matter. The decision was in lieu with the unrest in the state.
The scope of the protests
The students that have protested against the ban claim that those opposing them don’t understand how it is handled, or of Tamil Nadus culture. As of now, the leaderless and largely peaceful mass movement has spread across Tamil Nadu. Four lakh people have gathered, in at least 100 locations across Coimbatore, Trichy, Salem and Madurai. There was a city-wide bandh in Pondicherry.
Hundreds of youths gathered to demand the Central government to lift the ban on Jallikattu in Madurai. | Photo Courtesy: Daily HuntThe demands by the protestors include lifting the ban on Jallikattu, banning PETA and relief for drought-affected farmers.
Recent developments and DMK opposition
[su_pullquote]Despite the assurance of the Chief minister that the ban on Jallikattu will be rolled back, peaceful protests still continued.[/su_pullquote]
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Friday assured the state of a Jallikattu ordinance in a day or two. “Good news about ordinance will come in a day or two, as per the wishes of Tamils across the world. Jallikattu will happen in the state for sure. I am happy to state that ‘vaadivasal’ (the gateway to the jallikattu venue) will let the bulls run” he said. Regarding clearing of all impediments, the state government also assured the people that it will take the necessary legal recourse. Despite the promise of the Chief minister, peaceful protests continued. Black dress-clad protestors headed to Marina Beach in Chennai on two-wheelers, minivans and bullock carts.
A dawn-to-dusk bandh called forth by various trade unions and political parties elicited a good response on Friday. Citing ‘transportation issue’, most schools declared a holiday, with shops and hotels remaining closed.
MK Stalin at Rail Roko in support of Jallikattu at Tnagar railway station. | Photo Courtesy: The New Indian ExpressAlso, came into picture were ‘Rail Rokos’. DMK Party President M K Stalin along with former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi participated in a ‘Rail Roko’ at Mambalam railway station in Chennai. Stalin and thousands of DMK supporters were detained by the police when they staged the event. Post this ruckus DMK announced that all its party MLAs and MPs would go on a hunger strike on Saturday.