The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a farmer’s plea to modify its day-old order staying the Centre’s notification paving the way for the bull-taming sport event, popularly called Jallikattu, in Tamil Nadu.
Petitioner A Ramakrishnan argued that if the ban is lifted, it would push animals to slaughter houses in neighbouring Kerala. A farmer from Nagercoil district, he alleged the campaign against Jallikattu was a conspiracy by multinationals.
Within hours of the SC stay order, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding an ordinance to let the event continue.
At the outset of the hearing, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra made it clear it was not inclined to vacate the stay order. The court still agreed to hear Ramakrishnan’s application.
His counsel said the festival was a part of the state’s culture and was not about cruelty to animals. “Celebrations are a part of our blood. The festival is not in any manner meant to be cruelty to animals. Not a single speck of injury is caused to animals. We are rearing and parading the finest bulls and the best of cows during the Jallikattu festival,” the advocate argued.
He maintained there was a conspiracy behind the movement to stop the event because those involved were aggressively pushing their “own version of jersey cows and buffalo milk” in the market. “Those promoting Jallikattu were actually trying to preserve the depleting strength of indigenous bulls and cows,” the lawyer said.
{{/usCountry}}He maintained there was a conspiracy behind the movement to stop the event because those involved were aggressively pushing their “own version of jersey cows and buffalo milk” in the market. “Those promoting Jallikattu were actually trying to preserve the depleting strength of indigenous bulls and cows,” the lawyer said.
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