LIVE - Tamil Nadu Governor promulgates Ordinance lifting ban on Jallikattu

A day after the Central government gave its nod, the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday cleared an Ordinance to enable the holding of popular bull-taming sport Jallikattu in the state.

Chennai: Jallikattu is all set for a grand return in Tamil Nadu tomorrow with an ordinance issued for conducting the bull taming sport after a three-year-long ban but protesters in Marina beach and elsewhere on Saturday night refused to end their agitation unless a "permanent" solution is found.

After getting Governor Vidyasagar Rao's assent for the Ordinance, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam flew to Madurai for inaugurating the event tomorrow morning in Alanganallur, the main centre where the traditional sport has been held for long.

Ministers will preside over similar events elsewhere mainly in southern and western parts of the state.

21 January 2017

21:31 IST

Judgement of SC still pending, the matter remains sub-judice. Cruelty to animals, children, elderly and so on, is morally repugnant. PETA India believes that one day all bloodsports worldwide will be relegated to history books, even if that day is not today: PETA.

20:46 IST

Now that permission has been granted, Jallikattu should be organised in accordance with rules peacefully: Anil Dave, Environment Minister.

20:46 IST

Special Train from Chennai to Madurai to run today in wake of tomorrow's Jallikattu event, will leave from Chennai Egmore at 23:45 hours.

20:43 IST

In accordance with instructions of Tamil Nadu government, long awaited Jallikattu to be conducted tomorrow in Madurai. All steps being taken to ensure no injury to bull, person participating. Double barricading, proper arrangements made. We have also formed 17 medical teams to screen the bulls, 20 medical teams for people participating: KV Raghava Rao, Madurai DM.

20:42 IST

Tamil Nadu government has successfully put an Ordinance to lift the Jallikattu ban. Since Ordinance will last for 6 months, in coming Assembly session will formulate new law so Jallikattu takes place without hindrance: CM

17:15 IST

The Bill to replace today's Ordinance on Jallikattu will be tabled in state Assembly on January 23 when the first Assembly session begins, as per ANI.

17:15 IST

Tamil Nadu state ministers will inaugurate Jallikattu in their respective districts tomorrow at 11 am.

17:14 IST

Tamil Nadu Panneerselvam to inaugurate Jallikattu at Alanganallur at 10 am tomorrow.

16:47 IST

Tamil Nadu Governor Vidya Sagar Rao gives his concurrence for the emergency Ordinance to hold Jallikattu.

14:13 IST

AIADMK MPs leave President's House after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee over Jallikattu ordinance issue.

AIADMK leader M Thambidurai addresses mediapersons says, "We strongly believe by today evening the ordinance on Jallikattu will come into effect."

Issue of Jallikattu was in concurrent list and late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa stressed the need to solve it, but Centre omitted our request, Thambidurai further says.

AIADMK warned the Centre that if it continues to "ignore" the regional aspirations and interests of people of Tamil Nadu then it will have dangerous implications.

Thambidurai thanked PM Modi for helping the Tamil Nadu government come out with an ordinance on the Jallikattu issue but complained that the Centre was "ignoring" the state on a number of issues raised with him and his government.

"One nation, one tax may be good for GST but the concept of one language, one culture is not good for federalism. The Prime Minister talks of cooperative federalism but what is cooperative federalism if you are not able to address our issues.

"We (Tamil Nadu government) have been raising various issues like the Cauvery, Mullaiperiyar, Kachatheevu, Tamil fishermen, Sri Lankan Tamils cause and Jallikattu which symbolises Tamil culture. Tamil culture is also Indian culture. It is a warning to the central government that please don't step aside the regional aspirations and interests," he told reporters here.

13:19 IST

AIADMK MP's reach Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Jallikattu Ordinance.

10:44 IST

People protest in support of Jallikattu and against PETA in Mumbai.

10:35 IST

The pro-Jallikattu protests continue for the fifth day today across Tamil Nadu with the youth and students continuing to stay put at the venues, including the Marina, the epicentre of the statewide stir.

The entire area in and around Marina is abuzz with hordes of men, women and children shouting slogans, seeking nod for the bull-taming sport.

10:35 IST

Jallikattu supporters stage rail blockade at Madurai even as train services continued to remain affected due to the ongoing stir.

08:34 IST

DMK working president MK Stalin and party MP Kanimozhi begin one-day hunger protest in support of Jallikattu.

08:33 IST

Tamil Nadu Cabinet is expected to meet today morning to clear the ordinance and recommend it to the Governor Vidyasagar Rao for promulgation.
Rao, who is also Governor of Maharashtra, is reaching Chennai today.

08:30 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today assured the people of Tamil Nadu that all efforts were being made to organise the Jallikattu event.

"Central Government is fully committed to the progress of Tamil Nadu & will always work to ensure the state scales new avenues of progress," PM Modi tweeted.

"We are very proud of the rich culture of Tamil Nadu. All efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people," his another tweet said.

08:29 IST

What happened on Friday

Following up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, the Ministries of Home, Law and Environment vetted the state's draft ordinance and cleared the amendment that will denotify the bull from the list of "performing animals".

The ordinance has been forwarded to the state government, a Home Ministry spokesman said. It has been sent without the need of referring it to the President of India.

Amid massive protests demanding the holding of Jallikattu in his state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam told reporters in the national capital earlier on Friday that his government will promulgate the ordinance for facilitating Jallikattu.

Though the Chief Minister urged the demonstrators to withdraw their protests, the swarming mass of youths at Chennai's Marina Beach and in Madurai declared they will end their demonstration only after the sport is held.

Jallikattu bull-taming sport, an age-old annual event during Pongal is very popular in Tamil Nadu.

The Supreme Court in May 2014 banned Jallikattu, saying that bulls cannot be used as performing animals including bullock-cart races.

Since then, people have been urging the central government to take steps to allow the sport.

The apex court on Friday agreed not to pass judgement for a week on the Jallikattu issue while taking into account the Centre's submission that they were in talks with Tamil Nadu to find a way out in the matter.