CHENNAI: The pro-jallikattu protests continued for the fifth day today across Tamil Nadu with the youth and students continuing to stay put at the venues, including the Marina, the epicentre of the statewide stir, here.
The entire area in and around Marina was abuzz with hordes of men, women and children shouting slogans, seeking nod for the bull-taming sport.
Jallikattu supporters also staged rail blockade at Madurai even as train services continued to remain affected due to the ongoing stir.
The Southern Railway announced the cancellation of some trains besides diversion of others.
The Centre, moving swiftly, yesterday cleared a draft ordinance to allow jallikattu, paving the way for Tamil Nadu to promulgate it to end the widespread protests.
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had yesterday said an ordinance to allow jallikattu would be in place in a day or two and legal steps would be taken to tackle any "obstacles" that come its way.
The state government would undertake all legal measures to handle related issues and remove any obstacles legally to facilitate the conduct of jallikattu, he had stated.
Protests demanding lifting of jallikattu ban were also held at Alanganallur, the hub of the jallikattu event in Madurai district, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Kanyakumari and other parts of south Tamil Nadu, police said.
Some youths also squatted on the rail tracks in Madurai and talks between the protesters and railway and police officials were held. Train services were cancelled.
In Salem junction also the protesters squatted on rail tracks.
In Alanganallur, protesters demanded promulgation of ordinances by the Centre and state to hold the bull taming sport. They also demanded the removal of bulls from the Performing Animals category.
According to reports from Theni district, a group of people conducted cockfight, which is also banned, as part of their protests. Cockfights were a part of Tamil culture and the basic right of people, they said.
In Rameswaram, fishermen decided to boycott fishing till the ban on Jallikattu was lifted.