CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promulgate an ordinance to ensure conduct of jallikattu during the upcoming Pongal season, as passing a bill to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCAA) and other relevant laws to enable the conduct of the event would take time considering the deadlock in the Rajya Sabha.
Pointing out that the bill to amend the PCAA needed to be passed immediately to enable the conduct of jallikattu during the Pongal season in January, Jayalalithaa suggested that Parliament session could be extended, or a special session called for the purpose. “Alternatively, considering the urgency of the issue, the Centre may consider promulgating an ordinance in this regard. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, I urge you to have the ordinance promulgated expeditiously,” she added.
“Pongal festival is fast approaching, it is very important that the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu, who have a deep attachment to the conduct of the traditional event of jallikattu, should be honoured,” the CM said in her letter to Modi dated December 22.
Jayalalithaa said media reports had indicated that the Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change had stated that the Centre would introduce a bill in Parliament during the Winter session to enable the conduct of jallikattu. “We were eagerly looking forward to the introduction of the bill. However, now reports quoting the Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping say that the deadlock in Rajya Sabha was the reason for non-introduction of legislation to enable the conduct of jallikattu during Pongal festival in 2016,” she added.
In this context, she urged the PM to immediately direct the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to introduce a bill to comprehensively and suitably amend the relevant provisions of the PCAA and other laws to enable the conduct of jallikattu.