Madurai: Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan on Saturday said any case against bull taming sport Jallikattu, would be met legally in court, even as he cautioned the organisers to follow guidelines on holding the game.
"Animal welfare board's view that bulls are ill-treated is wrong. Such a submission would be legally dealt with in the court," he told reporters here, a day after the Centre lifted the ban on the controversial sport.
Talking to newsmen at the airport where he was welcomed by Jallikattu organisers and supporters, Radhakrishnan said the fact was that bulls were not ill-treated during the event.
However, the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways requested the organisers to follow the guidelines on holding the event.
The organisers also burst crackers and distributed sweets to people on the road leading to the airport.
Jallikattu is a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal festival celebrations on Mattu Pongal day.
The decision to allow Jallikattu days before the traditional harvest festival begins, and also bullock cart races in other parts of the country came through a government notification despite strong objections by animal rights groups.
(PTI)