CHENNAI: An Ordinance has been promulgated after hectic parleys, venues are being prepared across the State, and the men will get to grapple with the bulls on Sunday morning. But the battle over the bull is far from over, with the protesters now pushing the margins further after their intoxicating victory, seeking a ‘permanent solution’ instead of the Ordinance route.
On a day of quick developments, Animal Husbandry Minister Balakrishna Reddy returned to Chennai from Delhi on an early-morning flight with a copy of the Ordinance that had received clearance from the Union Home Ministry. By evening, Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao promulgated the Ordinance on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, removing the restriction on jallikattu with immediate effect.
But the exuberance with which it was received was rather short-lived among the thousands of protesters who gathered across the State, at Marina beach in Chennai, VOC Ground in Coimbatore, Thamukkam Ground in Madurai, and most importantly, at Alanganallur near Madurai, among the holy lands of the sport where the Chief Minister himself is scheduled to inaugurate jallikattu on Sunday.
The protesters stood steadfast on their demand for a permanent solution, maintaining that the present Ordinance was only a temporary arrangement that would enable the government to relieve the pressure but without bringing about an end to the cycle of litigations. The ones at Marina, who initially said they would continue the sit-in till those at Alanganallur ended theirs, began urging the latter not to call off the protest till such a solution was found.
Seeking to calm the nerves, Panneerselvam said there was no reason to be apprehensive about the Ordinance as a solution. “There is no need for apprehensions or suspicions about this Ordinance, and without any delay, a Bill will be introduced in the ensuing Assembly session to replace the Ordinance… I say this to the students, women and the public who are agitating for jallikattu: this is the permanent solution... this cannot be described as a temporary measure.” He himself would inaugurate the event at Alanganallur at 10 am, while other ministers will do the same in their respective districts about an hour later.
However, despite achieving the goal that the protesters initially set out to achieve, the Ordinance or accompanying assurances have not, so far, ensured a happy climax.
At Alanganallur, protesters stopped the Collector and SP from reaching the epicentre of the protest, despite the officials repeatedly assuring that the event would be held.