HYDERABAD: The ongoing debate on jallikattu echoed even in Telangana. Though the sport has no connection with the state, it has provided an opportunity to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to vent his anger on the BJP over moves for introducing a common civil code whereas Tollywood actor and Jana Sena boss Pawan Kalyan, who had campaigned for the BJP-TDP combine in the 2014 polls in the two Telugu-speaking states, tried to grab an opportunity to reiterate his latest allegation that the “Centre is discriminating against South Indians”.
Asad went ballistic at the Centre’s proposal to bring in common civil code by tweeting, “Jallikattu protest a lesson to Hindutva forces, Uniform Civil Code cannot be “imposed”. This nation cannot have one CULTURE we celebrate all.”
Pawan Kalyan, who has of late become a bitter critic of the policies of Modi government, termed the ban on Jallikattu as an attack on the Dravidian culture. The actor-turned-politico used the social networking site again to take potshots at the Centre.
Objecting to the ban on Jallikattu in TN and cockfights in AP, he tweeted on Friday, “Somewhere we have to draw a line for this moralistic madness in our society, otherwise it would be difficult to keep our nation’s integrity intact.”
The actor, who hails from coastal Andhra where cockfights are organised during Sankranti festival every year as a tradition, tried to win over the hearts of Andhras who are unhappy with the ban imposed on cockfights. “Kodipandem is the cultural identity of Andhras. If the central government is serious about enforcing Animal Cruelty Act, then it should ban poultry industry also, which produces around 8.4 lakh tons of poultry meat by killing millions of chicken.”
Another actor Mahesh Babu, too tweeted, “Jallikattu is the spirit of Tamil Nadu - bold and fearless. I support the spirit of Tamil Nadu. Especially, admire the way the students have been standing up for the cause, relentlessly fighting for their roots and culture. Proud to see such a statement of unity among Tamilians for something that they believe in.”