: The famed jallikattu at Alanganallur in Madurai will be held on February 10, the organisers announced here on Monday after thanking Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam for the steps taken by him to revive the rural sport and inviting AIADMK leader V.K. Sasikala to inaugurate the grand event. Earlier this month, the Chief Minister, who had gone to Madurai to inaugurate the event at the famed spot, had to return disappointed due to opposition from a section of the people.
The jallikattu will be held at Avaniapuram – another popular venue – on February 5 and in Palamedu on February 9. Both these places are located in Madurai.
Leader of the Alanganallur jallikattu festival committee J. Gururajan told journalists that he and others thanked Mr. Panneerselvam for the promulgation of the ordinance and eventually introducing the Bill amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which received Presidential assent on Monday. The leaders of the jallikattu organising committees of Avaniapuram and Palamedu also met the Chief Minister and invited him for the events. Meanwhile, an AIADMK press release said chairpersons of the Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniyapuram jallikattu committees, J. Sundararajan, C. Chelladurai and A.K. Kannan, respectively, met Ms. Sasikala separately.
No politicisation: Minister
Denying the suggestion that the invitation would mean politicisation of the event, a senior Minister, hailing from Madurai district, said it was the desire of the organisers to have Ms. Sasikala for the events. Besides, it was customary for any organising committee of such events to involve political figures and the invitation to Ms. Sasikala had to be viewed only against this backdrop, he contended.
