With no solution to the issue of ban on jallikattu in sight, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests for an immediate de-notification of bulls from the list of performing animals so that jallikattu could be conducted from Friday, as in the past.
In a letter to Mr. Modi, the Chief Minister requested Mr. Modi to “honour the sentiments” of people of Tamil Nadu.
Referring to two rounds of discussion between officials of the State government and those of the Ministry on the issue, he said “We were hopeful that the Government of India would issue this notification forthwith.” But, the Union Ministry had not yet issued a notification for the deletion of bulls from the list,
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Explaining the rationale behind the State government’s position, the Chief Minister said that “considering the fact that jallikattu is viewed as a cultural festival with religious overtones, the farmers of Tamil Nadu have been shocked by the abrupt ban [of the Supreme Court] on the sport, which has been cherished and savoured for centuries.”
He added that “the ban has hurt the sentiments of millions of farmers for whom this sport is a religious, social and cultural event.”
The ban has hurt the sentiments of millions of farmers for whom this sport is a religious, social and cultural event.