Amid the growing chorus for holding the banned bull-taming sport jallikattu in January, the Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to introduce a bill to amend laws for its conduct.
It also suggested a special Parliament session for the purpose or even promulgating an ordinance considering the “urgency” of the matter.
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Pongal was fast approaching and “it is very important that the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu, who have a deep attachment to the conduct of the traditional event of jallikattu, are honoured”.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a December 22, 2015 letter to Mr. Modi, she said media reports had “indicated” that Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar had stated the Centre would introduce a bill in Parliament in the winter session to enable its conduct.
She said, “We were eagerly looking forward to introduction of the bill,” but Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan was quoted in media that the deadlock in Rajya Sabha was the reason for non-introduction of the legislation.
Strongly urging the Prime Minister to immediately direct the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to introduce a bill to comprehensively and suitably amend relevant provisions of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, she said it had to be passed immediately to enable conduct of jallikattu.
ADVERTISEMENT
“May I request that the Parliament session be extended, or a special session called for this purpose? Alternatively, considering the urgency of the issue, the Government of India may consider promulgating an ordinance enabling the conduct of jallikattu during Pongal 2016. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, I urge you to have the ordinance promulgated expeditiously,” she said in the letter, released on Wednesday.