Bill replaces ordinance to amend Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act that permits holding of Jallikattu with necessary safeguards and safety norms. The last contingent of student protesters at Marina beach begins to disperse.

Chennai: A few hours after week-long Jallikattu protests turned violent, Tamil Nadu assembly passed a bill replacing an ordinance amending Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which paves the way for holding Jallikattu.

Tamil Nadu assembly witnessed a super fast passage of the bill, tabled by the chief minister O Panneerselvam, within minutes without a discussion. Opposition leader MK Stalin also supported the bill and welcomed the legislation that allows Jallikattu to be held without any hurdles.

The bill, however, can still be challenged in a court of law for review.

All political parties and celebrities took care to give credit to the students and youth who took up this fight and held a week long peaceful protests, which on Monday turned violent after police began forcibly evicting them from Marina beach in Chennai and other places in Tamil Nadu, including from Alanganallur in Madurai.

The protesters turned violent even as police stepped up security and cordoned off the Marina beach and sealed off all routes to the beach, throwing the entire traffic and normal life out of gear. Protesters torched several two-wheelers outside Ice House police station in Triplicane and Zambazar police station, which was attacked by a petrol bomb. In several places in Chennai and other cities, protesters hurled stones and attacked the police.

Traffic was held up as police and protesters fought pitched battles at many places. Several flights had to be rescheduled and train services were hit as protesters held up trains at different places.

Film director Gauthaman told media persons that they had appealed to the government to release all students arrested during the course of the protests unconditionally. They also gave the entire credit of the movement and success to the student community.

At Marina beach, student community leaders, withdrew the protests at around 6.30 p.m. after former judge Hari Paramdhaman explained the nitty gritties of the bill and legal issues. “Because we trust the judge and after the bill has been passed in the state assembly, and because 99.9 per cent of our demand has been fulfilled, we withdraw the protest,” said film director Gauthaman. .

For now, we are accepting this and we will take up fight again, if needed, Gauthaman said.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister O Panneerselvam tabled the bill and it was passed within minutes unanimously. The bill replaced the ordinance issued on Saturday exempted the conduct of Jallikattu from the provisions of the Central Act 59 (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

The bill also tries to satisfy the animal rights activists by stipulating strict rules, guidelines that needed to be followed when holding Jallikattu events. No cruelty to animals would be allowed. Jallikattu organisers cannot drug the animals or abused in any manner and the event can only be held in the presence of a team of veterinarians from the animal husbandry department. The district collector has to give permission and check if the guidelines are being followed.