Despite the Supreme Court’s ban on jallikattu, allegations have now surfaced on social media that BJP National Secretary H Raja let his bull participate in the bull-taming sport in Sivaganga district on Sunday. However, refuting the allegations Raja said that his bull was only used for the ‘Manju Virattu’.
Speaking to The News Minute, H Raja said, “Jallikattu is conducted only in one or two places in Tamil Nadu. In all the other places, it is Manju Virattu. It is different from jallikattu, it is a religious cultural festival so there is no ban against Manju Virattu so I have allowed my bull in Manju Virattu there is no ban on it. So, what is wrong in that?,” he asked.
He explained, “Manju Virattu is a thanksgiving festival for helping the farmers. After they are worshipped in the temple then they are let out, so I participated in it and let out my bull in the function,” he said.
Asked about the difference between jallikattu and Manju Virattu, Raja noted, “It is different from Jallikattu because in it, there will be a game and one by one, bulls will be let loose, here it is not like that, the bulls are worshipped and hundreds of bulls are let out.” The BJP leader also added that the bull is neither hurt in jallikattu or Manju Virattu.
Jallikattu has been held in several parts of Tamil Nadu, defying the court order. The police have arrested a number of people across the state.
The Supreme Court in May 2014, banned the bull sport, Jallikattu saying, “The mere presence of tradition can't justify practices. By this logic should courts allow child marriage, which too was a part of custom for centuries.”
The court held that bulls cannot be used as performing animals either for Jallikattu or for bullock cart races anywhere in the country.
Following this the central government had passed a notification exempting Jallikattu from the law, which has since been stayed by the apex court.
Even last year, clashes between the administration and Jallikattu organisers were witnessed in some pockets of the state.