After protests against ban in TN, Maneka Gandhi calls Jallikattu a western concept

The News Minute | January 17, 2014 | 02.40 pm ISTTamil Nadu this Pongal saw dampened spirits following the ban on ‘Jalikattu’, the state’s traditional bull-taming sporting festival held every year.Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, said that Jallikattu is a western concept that leads to killings of humans and animals, reported PTI."Jallikattu tradition is western culture and BJP is against it. Supreme Court's decision to ban it is a welcome step," said Gandhi.She also said that many cows and bulls useful for farmers are killed in this tradtion. According to The Hindu, ‘Jallikattu’ was known in ancient times as ‘Yeru thazhuvuthal’, and was popular amidst warriors in the Tamil classical period. It was an ancient Dravidian tradition practised 4000 years ago, and a seal found at Mohenjodaro which depicts the bull-fighting sport according to Iravatham Mahadevan, a specialist in Indus and Brahmi scripts, reported another Hindu report. Traditionally held every Pongal, the sport was banned after the Supreme Court ruled against the usage of bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races, said the report. Saying that all living creatures including animals had the dignity and right to live peacefully, the SC directed governments and Animal Welfare Board of India to take steps towards the same. The two most famous venues for playing the sport,  Palamedu and Alanganallur, remained calm without incidents where shops remained shut and many buildings sported black flags in a mark of protest against the ban on the sport. Read Tamil Nadu government seeks lift of Jallikattu ban ahead of PongalRead Group attempts to stage rail roko for lifting Jallikattu ban, warns state-wide protest if ban not revoked TweetFollow @thenewsminute