Follow live updates here as the Jallikattu protests enter Day 4.
- Thousands of protesters are camping at Chennai’s Marina Beach since Tuesday night to protest Jallikattu ban
- They are instead demanding a ban on PETA that has been behind the Jallikattu ban
- So far, the Madras High Court has refused to “interfere” in the matter saying the SC is “seized of the matter”
- AIADMK General Secretary Sasikala says legal measures to ban PETA will be adopted
- Tamil Nadu CM Panneerselvam Meets PM Modi in New Delhi
- PMO says Centre will support all decisions taken by the Tamil Nadu government
AIADMK MPs to Meet Rajnath Tomorrow
AIADMK MPs will meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday, seeking the Centre's help to allow conduct of jallikattu.
All the 49 party MPs, including 37 from Lok Sabha, would call on Singh at 12 pm on Friday tentatively.
"We will seek the central government's help to conduct jallikattu, this is an emotional issue for our people," an AIADMK leader told PTI.
We are examining the issue (the legal aspects of it) and all steps are being taken (to conduct jallikattu).AIADMK leader
He, however, declined to elaborate as to what will be the points of discussion or the area of support the MPs will be seeking from Centre in their meeting with the Home Minister.
Chief Minister Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday with the latter saying the matter was sub-judice while assuring that the Centre would back the state in its efforts to hold the sport.
TN Can Make Law to Treat Jallikattu as Traditional Sport: AG
As protests demanding Jallikattu swelled on the streets of Tamil Nadu, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi today said the state government has the power to enact a law to treat Jallikattu as a traditional sport, but cautioned that the animals should not be harmed or cruelly treated during such events.
Rohatgi, who defended in the Supreme Court the Centre's stand allowing use of bulls in events like Jallikattu, said that as far as sports is concerned, it is within the exclusive jurisdiction of respective state governments and the Centre has no power on it.
"That is not a power with the Centre at all because the Constitution demarcates the role of the Centre and states...As far as sports are concerned, it is in the exclusive jurisdiction of the state," he said.
PETA May Take Legal Route If Centre Brings Ordinance on Jallikattu
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India on Thursday said it may take the legal route if the Centre brings an ordinance to enable the conduct of Jallikattu or continue its campaign to create awareness against the holding of the bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu.
“Our campaign is against cruelty towards all animals. We will consult our lawyers and take a decision if there is an ordinance,” PETA spokesperson Manilal Valliyate told PTI.
The animal rights body also claimed that certain native breeds of bulls became extinct because of “white revolution” and “cross-breeding programmes”.
Jallikattu Protesters Keep Up Pressure
Reports indicated that the state government could consider promulgating an ordinance to ensure holding of jallikattu or convene the Assembly for adopting a resolution in its favour.
In a virtual replay of the anti-Hindi agitation of 1960s, lakhs of students and youths took leadership of the peaceful protests across the state, while agitators in Madurai, the main area which has been hosting jallikattu sport for centuries, stopped trains pressing for their demand.
Businesses, theatres, schools and transporters have declared a day-long strike on Friday supporting the demand for immediate permission to allow jallikattu.