Ban on Jallikattu triggers protest in Tamil Nadu

The recent ban imposed on Jallikattu, the traditional valour sport of Tamils by the Union Forests and Environment ministry has offended the sensibilities of the people in Southern Tamil Nadu. A legal battle against the ban has commenced and locals want the government to withdraw the order to deposit Rs 2,00,000 for holding the sport in every village.

Recently In Madurai, people from the Jallikattu Forum organized a mass rally and has petitioned the District Collector urging for unfettered permission to run these sports events. In July last year, the then Union Minister of Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh brought the bulls like lion, tiger, cheetah and bear in the list of wild animals. This has made Jallikattu, which is a traditional sport in which youngsters try to control the bulls with bare hands to show their valour, an offence and an illegal act. The organisers of Jallikattu and rural masses opposed the move. Later on the Tamil Nadu government gave permission to run the traditional show in villages.

In view of the ensuing Pongal, the Tamil festival, the district collector of Madurai convened a meeting to hold consultations about the celebrations. A set of guidelines were issued regarding the holding of Jallikattu. The organizers have been directed to deposit Rs 2,00,000 and also to make arrangements for medical facilities. Now the dissenting voices have gathered momentum against this insistence by the government through the district administration. The state president of the Jallikattu Forum P. Rajasekaran who has just returned after submitting a petition to the District Collector, told TSI "This continuing problem takes up its ugly head every January and July. One or the other goes to the courts in July every year. The problem and tension mounts up every January and then some solution with some relaxations or restrictions come about."

Even after the framing of guidelines by the Tamil Nadu government, Jallikattu is being organized all these years from 2009. But, unfortunately this year the union government's ban is staring at the face of the valiant men and their bulls. This ban at the instance of Hema Malini's petition has angered the people. It is also said that the minister had signed the back dated order. ''Taking up our cause through elected representatives like MPs and MLAs we have got permission with several conditions from the District Collector. The exorbitant Rs 2 lakhs deposit needs to go and the enlisting of Jallikattu bulls along with lion and tiger must go," says the Jallikattu Forum President P. Rajasekaran.