Chennai:
Top Tamil film actors including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith, Suriya, Dhanush and others held a silent protest at the South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA) headquarters in T Nagar in Chennai in support of Jallikattu.
The protest was held to show solidarity with the youth of Tamil Nadu who have been protesting for the conduct of the bull taming sport.
The silent protest was led by President of SIAA Nasser aka Nadigar Sangam along with general secretary Vishal, treasurer Karthi and vice-president Ponvannan.
The cinema halls remained closed on Friday. Tamil film unions have also extended support ro the protest.
What Supreme Court said
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed not to pass judgement for a week on the Jallikattu issue while taking into account the Centre's submission that they were in talks with Tamil Nadu to find a way out in the matter.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R Banumati that people of Tamil Nadu are "passionate" about Jallikattu and the Central government and the state are trying to resolve the issue.
"The Centre and the state are in talks to find a way out in the matter and our request is that the court should not deliver the judgement for at least a week," Rohatgi told the bench.
What Home Minister Rajnath Singh said
Pressing for an ordinance for conducting Jallikattu, AIADMK MPs on Friday met Union HomeMinister Rajnath Singh, who assured them that the Centre will take action so that the Tamil Nadu government could promulgate it in the next few days.
The MPs, led by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, requested the Home Minister to intervene to ensure promulgation of an ordinance to end the ban on the conduct of Jallikattu.
"The Home Minister has assured us that the file on ordinance will be processed as early as possible so that the ordinance can be promulgated in next two-three days," Thambidurai said.
The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking enactment of a special law withconditions by the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government for holding jallikattu, saying it cannot issue such a direction.
"The court cannot issue such a direction," the bench, comprising Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M Sundar said while hearing a petition by K K Ramesh, Managing Trustee of Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation.
What former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee said
Tamil Nadu government’s announcement that it would issue an ordinance to ensure the conduct of Jallikattu sport on Friday drew a sharp reaction from eminent jurist Soli Sorabjee who said such a move could be constitutionally invalid.
“The central government wants to consult the state government and sort it (the issue of Jallikattu) out. Very good. But to run an ordinance in these circumstances is out of the question. It will not be warranted at all,” the former Attorney General told some television channels.
He also said that an ordinance was issued when there were circumstances of “pressing nature” which required immediate action.
“I don’t think an ordinance will be constitutionally valid also, but in any case let’s wait and see what happens,” he said.
What Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy said
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Friday urged the Centre to bring in an ordinance to conduct jallikattu.
Narayansamy said he had e-mailed his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking promulgation of an ordinance to hold jallikattu which is an ancient Tamil sport.
“The Central government has full liberty to bring in an ordinance to permit the sport... “ he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here
Environment Ministry gives observations on jallikattu proposal
The Environment Ministry on Friday gave its observations to the proposal sent by the Tamil Nadu government for lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport jallikatu and returned it to the Home Ministry for final decision.
“The proposal was submitted to the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry sent it to us for comments. We gave our comments and have sent it back to the Home Ministry for further vetting,” a source in the Environment Ministry said.
What Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam 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.
“After getting the assent of President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday, an ordinance will be promulgated by our Governor to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” he said on his arrival here at the airport from Delhi.
Asked if he will inaugurate Jallikattu, Panneerselvam told reporters, “It will happen according to your wishes.”
He said the President will reach Delhi only tonight after his visit to states.
“Tomorrow or day-after-tomorrow, the joyous news of ordinance will come. For sure Jallikattu will be held in Tamil Nadu,” he said.
What Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu said
Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu on Friday came out strongly in support of jallikattu amid groundswell in Tamil Nadu for the conduct of the bull-taming sport.
Describing jallikattu as the “spirit of Tamil Nadu”, Mahesh Babu took to twitter and hoped the voices of the protesters are heard.
“Jallikattu is the spirit of Tamil Nadu—bold and fearless,” said the actor, son of veteran film personality Krishna.
“Proud to see such a statement of unity among Tamilians for something that they truly believe in. Especially admire the way, the students of Tamil Nadu have been standing up for the cause, relentlessly fighting for their roots and culture. Hope their voices are heard. I support the spirit of Tamil Nadu,” Mahesh Babu, who grew up and studied in Chennai, said in a series of tweets.
(With inputs from PTI)
