TIRUNELVELI: While major political parties are struggling to mobilise a few hundred cadres for their protests or meetings, over 2,000 youths from various southern districts gathered spontaneously at Palayamkottai on Wednesday in support of conducting ‘jallikattu’ as part of ‘Pongal’ celebrations this year.
“If the ban on ‘jallikattu’ is not lifted this year, the protest by the youths will be intensified across the State,” they shouted and raised slogans against PETA.
On getting invitation through WhatsApp and Facebook to raise their voice in support of ‘jallikattu’, the youths, who showed their strength in Chennai and Madurai, gathered in large numbers at Jothipuram Ground near Palayamkottai bus-stand in the evening.
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Though the police expected it be a demonstration by around 250 youths, the spontaneous response from the younger generation was staggering. The police had a tough time controlling the arrival of the youths to the venue in large numbers and ensuring smooth flow of traffic along busy Thiruvananthapuram High Road.
“This (‘jallikattu’) is a 2,000-year-old tradition and cannot be separated from (‘Pongal’) celebrations of Tamils. If the ban is not lifted, we’ll defy it as we are prepared to face the consequences in this democratic country,” the participants shouted even as holding placards and posters in support of their demand.
Along with three well-grown bulls, the agitation was conducted in which college students participated in a large number. They also presented a few folk arts at the protest venue.
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“We’ll gather at Kovilpatti and Kanniyakumari on January 12 in support of ‘jaillikattu’ the youths announced.