Opposition parties are bracing up for a fight against the BJP-led Union government for its “anti-Tamil approach.”
DMK working president M.K. Stalin announced that the party would organise rail rokos throughout the State on Friday condemning the Central government and urging the State government to pass new regulations by convening a special session of the Assembly.
Despite the pressure from students and political parties in the State, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has refused to promulgate an ordinance for the conduct of jallikattu. Already, the Centre has acted against the interest of the Tamils in Cauvery, NEET, new education policy and drought and cyclone relief.
At the same time, the AIADMK government has been caught breathless and was not in a position to uphold the rights of the State. The Chief Minister should convene a special session of the Assembly and enact new regulations in consultation with the legal experts, Mr. Stalin said.
TNCC president Su. Thirunavukkarasar said the BJP should explain why jallikattu was not held from 2015 to 2017 instead of blaming the Congress. In the past 32 months, the Centre has promulgated 23 ordinances, he pointed out.
PMK founder S. Ramadoss said any effort taken by the State government to conduct the sport is welcome. In case if everything fails, the government should allow the sport to be held defying the ban, he said.
Assuring his party’s wholehearted support to the student protests, TMC president G.K. Vasan said the Centre should help the AIADMK government in organising jallikattu before the end of this month.
The People’s Welfare Front on Thursday said that the Prime Minister has shirked from his responsibility of promulgating an ordinance when it comes to jallikattu.
“The ball is in Central government’s court,” said G. Ramakrishnan, State secretary of the CPI(M) at a press conference.
The three-party PWF squarely blamed the Centre for the stand-off over organising the sport. “We feel that this protest should not be primarily about opposing an NGO [PETA]. Let that be one of the demands. This situation has taken place because of the action of the Central-State governments and the main culprit is the Centre,” said Thol. Thirumavalavan of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, who joined Mr. Ramakrishnan and R. Mutharasan, CPI State secretary.
On the role caste plays in jallikattu, Mr. Thirumavalavan said the topic should be discussed at a later date. “There is no doubt that caste is a factor in jallikattu, but this is not the time to discuss it,” he said.
