After all that brouhaha over jallikattu just about three months back that spurred parties to make a mention of the relatively niche blood sport in their manifestos, the issue seems to have ceased to be an election issue. It is apparent from the mood in the towns of Alanganallur and Palamedu, which are renowned for the event.
The assurances made by both Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and DMK president M. Karunanidhi in the run-up to the election — that they would strive to revoke the Supreme Court’s ban on the event — are not likely to influence voters. But, it is not only the Dravidian parties. Even the BJP, the Congress and the PMK have made promises to get the ban overturned, with only the ‘Third Front’ choosing to remain silent.
The two towns, meanwhile, bear no signs of the protests that broke out in January when jallikattu could not be conducted for the second year running.
From threats of hunger strikes to election boycott, the protests went on vigorously for a few days. Today, the huge banner that was put up in Alanganallur at the height of the agitation, proclaiming that people would boycott the election, has disappeared.
“Nobody is even talking about it now, except may be a section of youngsters. The momentum fizzled out after a few days of protest in just the same way it happened last year,” says S. Sujatha, a local.
P. Karthigai Rajan, former secretary of the jallikattu organisingcommittee in Palamedu, is even campaigning for one of the major parties. “Though jallikattu is important, other key issues also matter in elections,” he says.
It seems that people now understand that the political parties have limited options in getting the Supreme Court decision overturned. “Parties know that they will gain our votes if they get the ban revoked. But the issue is complicated,” says P. Vellai Krishnan, also a resident of Alanganallur.
And as a result, “there is no point in voting with jallikattu issue in mind. Whoever comes to power, we just need to hope that they will revoke the ban,” says K. Rajkumar, a ward councilor in Palamedu.
A matter of emotions Former Sholavandan MLA and the DMK’s Madurai North District secretary, P. Moorthy, however differs with the prevailing opinion and contends that jallikattu continues to be on poll agenda.
“It is an emotional issue associated with Tamil culture and the people deeply feel the need for revoking the ban.”
A decade-long tussle
| 1 | March 2006: While rejecting a petition seeking approval for rekhla race, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court calls for strict implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act. Directs government to prevent animal cruelty in events like jallikattu. |
| 2 | March 2007: Division Bench in Madurai sets aside previous judgment. Says it is improper to impose a total ban. |
| 3 | July 2007: Animal Welfare Board approaches SC, which stays the judgment. |
| 4 | January 11, 2008: Apex court refuses to permit bullfight, but permits rekhla race with conditions. |
| 5 | January 15, 2008: Following urgent petition by State government, SC revokes ban on jallikattu. |
| 6 | July 2009: State passes Regulation of Jaillikattu Act. |
| 7 | July 2011: Centre issues notification banning the use of bull as a performing animal. |
| 8 | May 2014: SC strikes down Tamil Nadus special legislation and bans jallikattu altogether. |
| 9 | January 8, 2016: Centre issues special notification permitting jallikattu under certain conditions. |
| 10 | January 12, 2016: SC stays the notification. |
