Refuting Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s allegation that the DMK government’s failure to take steps resulted in a ban on jallikattu, party leader M. Karunanidhi said if elected to power his government would take legal remedies in consultation with the Centre to conduct the festival next year.
In a statement here, he said in 2007 and in 2008, the DMK government had obtained relief from the courts and organised jallikattu under the supervision of administration. In 2009, the DMK government enacted legislation to regulate the sport.
“But in 2006 itself, the DGP issued a circular citing an order of the Mumbai High Court saying that jallikattu and rekla race were not allowed. This is clear proof that the AIADMK government was not interested in holding the event,” Mr. Karunanidhi said.
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The Supreme Court in 2014 not only banned jallikattu but also cancelled legislation enacted by the AIADMK government. “Instead of approaching the Supreme Court to get an order to uphold the DMK government’s order, the AIADMK regime wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi just a day before Pongal on January 14, 2015,” Mr. Karunanidhi alleged.
‘The DMK had, in 2007 2008, obtained relief from courts and organised the sport under the supervision of administration