January 11, 2017
Chennai: AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a lift on the ban on jallikattu.
She has asked to denotify bulls as ‘performing animals’ by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and to exempt jallikattu from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act as the bulls are specially reared for this purpose and are not put through any cruelty.
Sasikala highlighted that the ban on jallikattu has incensed the people of Tamil Nadu, especially the youth, who want to continue the tradition of the sport as they feel that it is their cultural right; they exhibit their courage in taming the bull through the sport.
Lifting the ban will bring great joy to the Tamil people and the Pongal festival can be celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety, she noted.
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has also urged the Prime Minister for lifting the ban in a meeting last month.