IT, bank employees express solidarity with Jallikattu protests

Chennai: With traders downing shutters following a bandh call against jallikattu ban, employees of information technology, banks and other commercial establishments today staged a protest here expressing their solidarity to the cause.

Banking operations took a hit with some employees taking part in protests called by Bank Employees Federation of India, Tamil Nadu unit and All India Bank Employees Association.

Employees of various IT companies expressed solidarity by holding placards and banners with slogans against People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

While some employees went to the Marina beach extending their support to the ongoing agitation, some others wore black clothes and staged a protest in front of their respective offices, across the city.

"We want to express our solidarity to the sport. It is our tradition and we do not want it to be banned. Since, we could not participate in the protests being held at Marina, we are conducting it here," one Vanitha Subramanian said.

Similarly, employees of a top multinational firm which has an office at the Old Mahabalipuram Road, conducted a protest on the road wearing black and holding placards.

"We want jallikattu. We want jallikattu...Ban PETA" were some of the slogans raised by them.

Some employees, representing various public and private sector banks, staged a protest at the famous Mount Road, officials said.

Bank Employees Federation of India, Tamil Nadu unit, General Secretary C P Krishnan said the protest is not only to uphold traditional rights of Tamils "but also to showcase our unity against the central and state governments for not conducting the sport".

The employees wore red shirts protesting the ban on jallikattu, he said.

"As students were staging protests at the Marina in a peaceful manner, the Union decided to offer its support by staging the protest," he added.