Students from various colleges in the city took out a rally here on Wednesday demanding restoration of ‘jallikattu.’
They raised slogans urging the Central and state government to restore the ‘art’ which, they said, ‘symbolised the civilisation of the Tamils.’
They said that they could float a network through social medium particularly WhatsaApp messages and gather at the Vestry Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School.
They said they were motivated by the support given by students in cities like Chennai and Madurai.
A bull was brought to the scene of stir.
Tight police security was provided. Traffic on the Collector’s Office road and up to the Central bus stand remained affected. The police diverted buses to avoid traffic snarls.
Pudukottai
Students of H.H. The Rajah’s College launched a similar stir here. They abstained from classes and squatted in front of the college demanding restoration of ‘jallikattu.’ The police rushed to the spot to pacify the students. The college authorities declared holiday for today and tomorrow on ‘administrative reasons.’
Thanjavur
Students, who claimed that they came together through the web, organised rallies in Thanjavur and Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district on Wednesday to demand conduct of ‘jallikattu.’
Demanding that the ban be removed immediately considering the cultural and historic ties between the sport and Tamil race, students under the banner ‘Thanjai Pasanga’ had given a call for a rally from the Big Temple to Railway Junction through Raja Mirasdar Hospital Road and Gandhiji Road. Tiruvaiyaru A. Vinodh and his friends coordinated the endeavour but the police denied permission for the rally while allowing a demonstration on the issue.
Students from various colleges staged a demonstration in front of the Head Post Office here when they flayed the Central Government and the animal welfare organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Naam Tamizhar Katchi State Coordinator A. Nalladurai, All India Kisan Sangam district vice-president V. Jeevakumar, and DMK south district secretary Durai Chandrasekar spoke. A the end of the demonstration, a section of students defied the police authorities and took out a rally from the Head Post Office to the Old Bus Stand.
Mannargudi
In Mannargudi, more than 500 students took out a rally from Periyar statue to the RDO office through Panthaladi demanding that the ban on ‘jallikkattu’ be removed.
Among those who led the show included Jayaanand, nephew of AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala and son of Sengamala Thayar Educational Trust founder Divakaran.
