Even as political tensions have been high in Tamil Nadu with one issue after another occupying centre stage, Monday’s legislative assembly session provided some much needed comic relief.
Ever since the former Chief Minister and now Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam played an instrumental role in getting an ordinance passed for the conduct of the previously banned sport of jallikattu, he has been hailed a hero by party cadre. Not just any hero. But jallikattu hero- a name reserved for those who actually take part and emerge victorious in taming the bull!
As is customary, the AIADMK Ministers were singing lavish praises of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister in assembly over the setting up of the Cauvery Water Management Authority when the overly enthusiastic Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Kamaraj referred to OPS with his moniker.
An alarmed OPS then stood up and asked Kamaraj to refrain from calling him jallikattu nayagan (jallikattu hero).
“I want all my party MLAs to stop praising me as jallikattu hero. In my native district (Theni), jallikattu is being held in several places. If I go to some area where jallikattu is on, people will think that I am a hero in this sport and will push me into the ring. What will happen then?” he asked as the assembly broke into laughter.
In January last year, following a massive state wide protest, an ordinance was promulgated making jallikattu legal in the state. The Tamil Nadu government's ordinance also had the President's sanction to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act with regard to Tamil Nadu