VIRUDHUNAGAR/TIRUCHY/MADURAI: Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan should resign if permission is denied for Jallikattu this year, said Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president E V K S Elangovan here on Sunday.
After participating in a function held to pay homage to former Virudhunagar MLA R Chokkar, who died of ill health last month, Elangovan said, “Pon Radhakrishnan gave an assurance to the people that Jallikattu will be organised this year. If permission for it is denied, then Radhakrishnan should resign.”
“Jallikattu is an ancient sport that reflects the culture of the people and the Congress has always insisted that the sport should not be banned. The Central government, which came to power one-and-a-half years back, has failed to fulfill even a single promise,” he said.
When questioned if the Congress would strike an alliance for the Assembly elections, Elangovan said a decision on it would be made by the party high command.
Meanwhile, residents of Periya Suriyur and Uthamaseeli near in Tiruchy said Jallikattu was more than a mere sport for them.
“If we do not organise the annual event, we will incur the wrath of village deity Karuppanaswamy and face several problems,” claimed one of the organisers of Suriyur Jallikattu.
With Pongal festival fast approaching, the fate of more than 150 bulls reared for the rustic sport in these villages is in question.
In Madurai, members of the People’s Welfare Front (PWF) staged a demonstration demanding immediate measures to conduct Jallikattu. Over 150 PWF members gathered at Alanganallur and raised slogans urging both the State and Central governments to take steps to lift the ban on Jallikattu.
Farmers from Alanganallur and nearby villagers brought their bulls to the protest venue.
Members of the Satta Panchayat Iyakkam also conducted a hunger strike at Avaniyapuram. The volunteers of the movement performed ‘Silambam’ on the bus stand premises.