Facing pressure from states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the Centre on Monday indicated that it would allow popular bull-taming sport jallikattu and a few other bullock races in the New
Facing pressure from states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the Centre on Monday indicated that it would allow popular bull-taming sport jallikattu and a few other bullock races in the New Year.
Environment minister Prakash Javadekar said that the government will let such cultural practices continue while ensuring that animals are not subjected to cruelty.
“Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, bullock cart race in Maharashtra, Kambala in Karnataka and some sort of race using bullocks in Punjab has been traditionally and culturally practised for centuries. We want to respect that but also ensure that there should be no cruelty. Therefore, we will give you good news in the next couple of days. We will give you good news so that the cultural practice can be followed as well as cruelty should not happen to animals. We have found out some ways and will announce by January 1. The government is positive on the issue,” Mr Javadekar told reporters.
These events involving animals will be permitted to continue “for sometime”, he said responding to a question about these sports.
Agencies quoting sources said that the government is likely to issue an executive order in this regard on January 1, 2016 and the environment ministry had consulted attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi on the issue. Jallikattu, also known eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport played in Tamil Nadu .
The ban on Jallikattu has dampened Pongal festivities in Tamilnadu, especially in southern districts where it has been a popular event for centuries, and there has been demands for facilitating its conduct.
Mr Javadekar had earlier hinted that the Centre would consider taking steps, including amending laws to allow the sport.
