Police detains over 500 people for protesting in support of Jallikattu in Madurai

In a massive crackdown by Tamil Nadu Police following the protest against the Supreme Court’s ban on Jallikattu, more than 500 protestors have been detained by the police in Alanganallur of Tamil Nadu’s Madurai on Tuesday.   

On Saturday too, 149 persons were detained in Madurai district for staging protests against the ban. The Supreme Court on Thursday had said it could not give its verdict on Jallikattu before Pongal. 

Thousands of protestors on Monday took to the streets in Madurai’s Alanganallur town protesting the ban against the ancient and popular bull-taming sport -Jallikattu. They assembled in the town area well known for conducting Jallikattu. A large convoy of police personals have been deployed at the venue to prevent any untoward incidents.

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Protestors made black rangoli and held various protests against Peta also. DMK Working President MK Stalin and PETA over the Jallikattu issue, with the leader dubbing the animal rights NGO as “anti-national” and the group calling the criticism “cheap and ineffective.”

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has come under severe criticism from pro-Jallikattu groups for its strident opposition to the bull-taming sport associated with the Pongal harvest festivities.

Targeting PETA, which has been in the forefront of anti- Jallikattu protests, Stalin, also Tamil Nadu Opposition leader, said such “international NGOs did not realise the diversity of India and aspects of its heritage,” and charged them with working with “ulterior motives.”

“Centre should immediately ban the international NGO PETA which is against our culture and is anti-national,” he said.

He also favoured replacing Animal Welfare Board of India with a different body with more Tamil representation in it.

Hitting back, PETA said Stalin’s criticism was “cheap and ineffective” and that supporting “cruelty” is “un-Indian.”

“To target an animal protection NGO which is not a law- making body, but rather a law-abiding body, is cheap and ineffective as it can have no bearing whatsoever on the central government laws that prohibit cruelty to bulls,” Manilal Valliyate, Director of Veterinary Affairs, PETA India, said.

“To stand for kindness is patriotic, to stand for cruelty is un-Indian. PETA India serves animals in respect of our country’s Constitutional mandate, its laws and its Supreme Court,” Valliyate said in a statement.

Stalin demanded that the Centre should not allow PETA to function anymore and urged the Union Government to come out with court-approved mechanism for the conduct of the bull-taming sport in future.

(With agencies input)