Jallikattu will be held across Tamil Nadu tomorrow: Panneerselvam

Jallikattu, the bull taming sport banned by the Supreme Court, will be conducted on Sunday after the Tamil Nadu government passed an Ordinance, making amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, allowing the bulls to run.

After obtaining the assent of the President and the Governor for the ordinance, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Saturday said that the “vaadivasal” (the gate through which the bulls are let out into the ground) will be opened and the bulls that have been locked up would come out.

The Chief Minister said he would inaugurate the jallikattu at Alanganallur at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning and other Ministers would inaugurate the event in various districts at the same time.

The Bill to replace the ordinance would be tabled in the State Assembly on January 23 when the Assembly session begins, the Chief Minister said in a statement. He thanked the students, women and the public who staged agitations across the State to protect Tamil culture and appealed to all to take part in jallikattu events in large numbers.

In a separate letter, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi also. Earlier in the morning on his return from New Delhi after obtaining the Presidential assent, Mr. Panneerselvam held a meeting with AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala.