CHENNAI: After captivating the State with the protest that erupted out of nowhere, the widespread agitation over jallikattu splintered on Sunday with one section of campaigners, including those fighting for the cause for years, requesting the disparate protesters to suspend the sit-ins so that the event could be held on the basis of the Ordinance.
‘Hiphop Tamizha’ Adhi, one of them, whose popular song Takara Takara was the protest anthem, took to social media charging that the campaign was hijacked by vested interests who used the platform to push their communal, anti-national and anti-social agenda.
Though these people are not exactly leaders of this leaderless uprising, this is the first sign of a crack in the movement. It, however, has not yet had any telling impact on the ground, where the sit-ins are continuing in equal intensity if not equal strength.
This would comfort the administration that has been floundering to anticipate or control the swelling protest. It has helped to create a binary — those who are on the streets only for jallikattu and the rest.
The latter comes with the branding of being the hardline fringe, which could prompt the youth to distance themselves, making it easier for the administration to control. This came on a day when the State could not organise jallikattu events in all the districts as was announced.
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam could not even reach Alanganallur near Madurai, where he was to inaugurate the event this morning, after all four roads that led to the village were blocked.
At Rappoosal village in Pudukottai, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar’s native, two bull tamers were gored to death and scores suffered injuries. At the rekhla race in Coimbatore, an event that once used to attract over 500 participants, there were only about four bullock carts today. Even this was wound up soon after the protest.
But tomorrow is another day. After having filed a caveat at the Supreme Court seeking to forestall any adverse order without hearing the State, the government will introduce the draft bill when the Assembly convenes for the first time this year. The bill will replace the Ordinance promulgated on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the government also announced that schools and colleges would open from Monday, which may reduce the crowd at the sit-ins where they form the biggest contingent.