Senior BJP leader and former MP Tarun Vijay today lauded the students for their success in getting a law enacted to hold Jallikkattu in Tamil Nadu, despite the plans by left extremists to exploit the protest.

“Like Mahathma Gandhi, the students have created history and revived and protected Jallikkatu, the traditional and cultural identity of Tamils,” Vijay told reporters here.

Jallikattu is now no more Tamil Nadu’s festival. It is a festival of India, he said, adding that it was unfortunate that the police used batons on students chanting the national anthem.

Prime minister, Narendra Modi should also be given credit in solving the issue, as he has promised to stand by Tamil Nadu on the issue and he stood for Tamil culture and heritage, he said.

“In the last two years, the Modi government has taken enormous efforts to protect Tamil culture. Thirukkural was sung in Parliament for the first time. It was taken to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Moreover, the statue of the saint poet Thiruvalluvar was installed at Haridwar,” Vijay said.