It looks like the BJP wants to make inroads into Tamilnadu politics Via Jallikattu. The BJP leaders are adopting the strategy of wait and watch over the matter. Tamil super star Rajinikanth has stepped into the dangal of Jallikattu along with other cine heroes.
CM Pannerselvam has already requested for an ordinance, but it might take another two days according to the sources. Anna DMK MPs met Minister for Home Rajnath Sing today and demanded for Jallikattu. People like music maestro Rahman who dont come into lime light and dont step into issues, are participating in a hunger strike. Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan also supported along with Mahesh and Rana.
The court banned Jallikattu for the sake of animal lovers, but jallikattu is an age-old tradition in Tamil Nadu and continues to enjoy significant popularity. It is intrinsically linked to the rural-agrarian economy of the state where only the best bulls from indigenous species are reared for jallikattu. Protests in various forms are going on in Tamilnadu for the bull sport.
In fact, jallikattu is an event where the best bulls are displayed and the ones that win are sought for breeding by farmers. Thus, there’s no question of harming the bulls as they serve an important economic and cultural function. In that sense, jallikattu plays a significant part in preserving and propagating native cattle breeds in Tamil Nadu.
The argument that engaging the bulls in sport itself is cruelty doesn’t cut ice either. Agriculture in Tamil Nadu is getting mechanised and farmers cannot afford to keep bulls simply as pets. Would animal rights activists prefer that the bulls be sold and slaughtered for meat? Besides, the jallikattu ban is hardly enforceable like the cock fights. Despite the ban, the AP people conducted cock fights.
It is likely that the state Government might come up with an ordinance on its own. But the same has to be approved by the President of India. The central Government on the other hand has requested the Supreme Court to defer with the Judgement on Jallikattu by a week.
