The pro-Jallikattu protests continued for the fifth day today across Tamil Nadu with the youth and students continuing to stay put at the venues, including the Marina, the epicenter of the statewide stir in Chennai.
The entire area in and around Marina was abuzz with hordes of men, women and children shouting slogans, seeking nod for the bull-taming sport.
Jallikattu supporters also staged rail blockade at Madurai even as train services continued to remain affected due to the ongoing stir.
The Southern Railway announced cancellation of some trains besides diversion of others.
The Centre, moving swiftly, yesterday cleared a draft ordinance to allow Jallikattu, paving the way for Tamil Nadu to promulgate it to end the widespread protests. This will ensure that provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act will not apply to the bull. The ordinance has been forwarded to the state government, a Home Ministry spokesman said. It has been sent without the need of referring it to the President of India.
The draft Ordinance, which will add a state-specific exception in the 1960 Act, passed through four ministries during the day — Environment, Animal Husbandry department of Agriculture Ministry, Law and finally Home — receiving consent from each within hours.
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had yesterday said an ordinance to allow jallikattu would be in place in a day or two and legal steps would be taken to tackle any “obstacles” that come its way.
The state government would undertake all legal measures to handle related issues and remove any obstacles legally to facilitate the conduct of jallikattu, he had stated.
(With inputs from PTI)
(Feature image source: PTI)
