MADURAI
The organisers of jallikattu in Avaniapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur, the three places renowned for the sport in Madurai district, have denied the claims of animal torture made by People for Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) India in its petition filed at the Supreme Court on Thursday challenging the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017.
The petition was filed with videographic evidence reportedly showing the torture the bulls underwent during jallikattu in five places in February, which included Thirunallur in Pudukottai district and Maravapatti in Dindigul district, apart from the three places in Madurai district.
J. Sundarrajan, president of the jallikattu organising committee in Alanganallur, said the regulations enforced this year were unforeseen. “Since the sport was conducted after a historic struggle by the people of Tamil Nadu, every stakeholder, including the owners and tamers, were keen to ensure that there were no violations,” he claimed.
Arguing that the district administration followed a zero-tolerance attitude towards violations, he said even a few bull tamers, who indulged in minor incidents like catching the bull by its horns or many hugging the bull at the same time, were removed from the jallikattu arena.
P. Karthigai Rajan, member of Palamedu Grama Podhu Mahalingaswamy Madathu Committee that is in charge of conducting jallikattu in the village, claimed that the new regulations were followed to the maximum extent possible.
“Right from erection of barricades, earmarking separate arena for the bulls to rest and providing food and water to them, everything was followed. Similarly, different colours of t-shirts were given to tamers to ensure that they took turns in entering the arena,” he said.
A.K. Kannan, president of jallikattu organising committee in Avaniapuram, said a large number of bulls were not allowed to enter the arena since they were deemed unfit by the veterinary teams.
Mr. Sundarrajan also questioned the veracity of PETA India’s claims made through the roughly four-minute-long video clip. “It should be verified whether all these images and video clips are shot this year in these five places,” he said.
Mr. Kannan said PETA India was unnecessarily raking up jallikattu issue again with exaggerated claims. Mr. Karthigai Rajan blamed the organisation for prioritising the wrong issue. “Out cattle are suffering now with no food and water owing to the ongoing drought. If they are really concerned about animals, let them do something about it,” he said.
