Live blog: No jallikattu in Alanganallur despite ordinance; protesters adamant, TN govt in quandary

There has been no respite in jallikattu outrage, as protesters demand a permanent solution.
Live blog: No jallikattu in Alanganallur despite ordinance; protesters adamant, TN govt in quandary
Live blog: No jallikattu in Alanganallur despite ordinance; protesters adamant, TN govt in quandary
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Protests by villagers squatting near the vaadivasal in Allanganalur bore fruit when the jallikattu scheduled for Sunday morning, stood cancelled. Although no official announcement was forthcoming, the event did not look to be proceeding as no bulls had been brought there for the jallikattu.

The jallikattu was to be held in Allanganalur, which had emerged as one of the epicentres of the protests that rocked TN, after the ordinance allowing it was promulgated on Saturday. However, villagers had been protesting since Saturday evening, saying that they wanted a permanent solution – an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act – rather than a temporary one. The demand is that the bull must be taken off the list of ‘performing animals’.

TN Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was to inaugurate jallikattu, headed back to Chennai after the roads to Alanganallur were blocked by trucks full of sugarcane to prevent his entry into the area. The anger against the state government apparent, villagers said that OPS could have tea with the sugarcane and leave.

Despite the District Collector’s efforts on Saturday night to convince villagers to call off the protest, the villagers did not relent. From Saturdayevening, the District Collector has been making repeated visits to Alanganallur in hopes of pacifying villagers and ensuring that the event takes place. However, the villagers have refused to relent.

The villagers have also said that they are creating blockades around the village in order to prevent any violence. Their fear is that if the police or others are let in, it may cause clashes and the villagers may get blamed for it.

Jallikattu was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014. The past week has seen thousands pour into Chennai’s Marina beach and other parts of Tamil Nadu, protesting against the ban as an affront to Tamil traditions and pride.

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