Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao has approved the jallikattu ordinance and the bull taming sport will be held at Alaganallur in Madurai and other parts of the state tomorrow, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced on Saturday.
The Chief Minister will inaugurate jallikattu at Alanganallur, famous for conducting the rural sport, at 10 am.
In other areas, ministers from the respective regions will inaugurate the sport at 11 am, Panneerselvam said.
“I urge the youths, students and the general public to make the jallikattu events across Tamil Nadu a grand success by participating in large numbers,” he said.
As the state-wide protests including at the Marina beach here by tens of thousands of protesters entered the fifth day, Panneerselvam said the assent of President Pranab Mukherjee to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 by Tamil Nadu was received on Friday night.
“The assent for the ordinance (amending the PCA Act) has been obtained from Govenor also,” he said, adding, “our dream to conduct jallikattu this year has come true.”
He said a draft Bill to replace the ordinance and amend the PCA Act paving the way for holding jallikattu without any hindrance will be introduced and adopted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s session which begins on January 23.
The Tamil Nadu government had issued an Ordinance, enabling the conduct of the bull-taming sport, after obtaining the prior instructions of the President as envisaged under Article 213 of the Constitution
The Ordinance was promulgated on Saturday by the government of Tamil Nadu and jallikattu is to be conducted with customary fervour all over the state with all the necessary safeguards,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Modi said all efforts were being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu. “We are very proud of the rich culture of Tamil Nadu. All efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people,” he tweeted.
Modi said the Centre was fully committed to the progress of Tamil Nadu and will always work to ensure that the state scaled new avenues of progress. (PTI)
