Ahead of polls, Centre lifts jallikattu ban

The Centre has lifted the four-year-old ban on poll-bound Tamil Nadu’s controversial bull-taming sport ‘jallikattu’ by altering its 2011 notification. The fresh notification also cleared other traditional bull-related events like bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat.

Soon after the notification was issued late Thursday, activists vowed to move the Supreme Court against the environment ministry’s fresh move. They said the step was taken by completely ignoring the view of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) that had on December 31 written to the environment ministry against any such move.

On the other hand, environment minister Prakash Javadekar justified the decision, saying that the cultural and historial practices of communities have been allowed with “many restrictions”. Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa thanked PM Narendra Modi for his “prompt response” to her government’s appeal, seeking a nod for jallikattu.

The fresh notification came despite the SC upholding in 2014 the ministry’s 2011 notification which included bulls in the category of animals that will not be used as performing animals.

A week after the Tamil Nadu government wrote to the Centre, AWBI chairman Maj Gen (Retd) R M Kharb had on December 31 written to environment secretary Ashok Lavasa against the Centre’s in-principle decision to lift the ban. “…the AWBI continues to strongly oppose conduct of these events and urge you to please reconsider government’s decision to allow conduct of jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, bullock cart races at Maharashtra\Punjab and other parts of the country, Kambala in Karnataka and other similar events,” he wrote.

The latest notification that comes just days ahead of ‘Pongal’ festival, though includes certain ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’. Jallikattu forms part of Pongal celebrations.

“What we have allowed is with proper safeguards and (while) ensuring that there is no cruelty (meted out) to animals. Cultural and historical practices of the communities are being allowed with many restrictions,” said Javadekar, who is currently on a three-day tour of northeast states.

While ruling out exhibition and training of bears, tigers, panthers, lions, monkeys and bulls as performing animals, the notification though adds that “bulls may be continued to be exhibited or trained as a performing animal, at events such as jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat in the manner by customs of any community or practised traditionally”.

It, however, put some conditions, saying bullock cart race shall be organised on a proper track, which shall not exceed 2km. It said that in case of jallikattu, the moment the bull leaves the enclosure, it shall be tamed within a radial distance of 15 metres and it should also be ensured that the bulls are put to proper testing by authorities of animal husbandry and veterinary department to ensure that they are in good physical condition. Performance enhancement drugs are not to be administered to the bulls.

Slamming the decision, PETA, India (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) called it a “black mark” on the nation. It said even the BJP supporters are “horrified” that the same authorities which claimed to care about cattle are now allowing cruelty despite the ban by the highest court of India. “This U-turn is being seen by many of the BJP’s own supporters as reckless, heartless, and weak. We vow to take our fight to the SC,” said Poorva Joshipura, PETA India CEO.