An impromptu agitation by thousands of non-partisan youth managed to bulldoze all opposition to the conduct of Jallikattu, the traditional bull taming sport in Tamil Nadu, and gave everyone, including politicians, a lesson or two about how to be single-minded in achieving the goal. Confirming what was first reported by The New Indian Express, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced on Friday that the “vadivasal (gateway to the arena) will be opened for Jallikattu through which the bulls will charge”, after a State ordinance is promulgated by Governor Vidyasagar Rao in a couple of days after getting President Pranab Mukherjee’s assent. He even indicated that he would inaugurate one such event.
After the Centre put the ball in the State’s court since it did not want to burn bridges with the new Chief Justice of India, the chief minister acted swiftly to share a draft of the ordinance with various Union ministries. Since the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act of 1960 was on the concurrent list, the State has the right to promulgate its ordinance, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had suggested.
Rohtagi also urged the Supreme Court to put off the verdict it was planning to pronounce in the Jallikattu case soon, giving the State some breathing space to conduct the sport in the next few days before exploring a lasting legal solution since ordinances by definition have a short lifespan. That the Supreme Court was accommodative shows the unity of purpose between the executive and the judiciary in defusing the situation building up on the banks of the Marina. Amid that intoxicating scent of victory, it is important that all those involved in the bull taming sport realise they must play by the rules without infl icting violence on the animals, else the hard-fought victory could come to nought the next time around.