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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Jan 23, 2017, 11:58 PM IST
The six-day-old stir over jallikattu turned violent today after an early morning crackdown on the protesters here, leaving over 20 police personnel injured even as the Tamil Nadu assembly moved swiftly and passed a bill replacing an ordinance for conducting the bull taming sport.
A senior police official told PTI that 90 per cent of the protesters at Marina beach, the epicentre of the agitation, predominantly by students and youth, had vacated the area by late evening and that normalcy was being restored. Reports said most protestors in other parts of the state like Madurai, Erode and Coimbatore were either evicted or had left on their own, heeding the appeal of police.
However, the crackdown had a ripple effect in the city and elsewhere, where normal life was affected, with protesters staging road blocks and state transport buses being withdrawn at many places.
The government moved quickly to get the amendment bill to replace the jallikattu ordinance promulgated two days ago, passed in the assembly in the evening session.
The "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment), Act, 2017", piloted by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, was passed by voice vote with the support of opposition DMK and other parties.
It said the "Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to exempt jallikattu from the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act."
On an eventful day, police set on an early morning crackdown at Marina after issuing an advisory asking students to leave. They said students' protests had been successful as jallikattu had been held yesterday following the state issuing the ordinance.
Former Madras High Court Judge Hari Paranthaman also spoke to the protesting youngsters, explaining to them the technical specifications of the state government's amendment to the PCA Act. According to a senior police official, "90 per cent of the protesters at Marina Beach have left." Earlier in the day, protesters fought pitched battles with police at several areas, especially around Marina Beach from where thousands were evicted.
They blocked roads at various parts of the city with the week-long agitation taking a violent turn. Traffic was thrown out of gear as the agitators took to the streets, with some attacking policemen and their vehicles.
Police fired teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge at some places as sections of protesters, removed from Marina in the early morning crackdown, pelted stones.
They went on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire at a few places, including in front of Ice House Police Station near the beach.
Didn't use force on crowd,wanted peaceful dispersion;sm anti-social elements intervened: S. George, Chennai Police Commissioner #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/IA1VaJUDSR
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao forwards the #Jallikattu bill to President Pranab Mukherjee for his consent
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Videos of Police surfacing on social media are morphed, its a matter of investigation: TK Rajendran,Chennai Police Commissioner #jallikattu
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Didn't use force on crowd,wanted peaceful dispersion;sm anti-social elements intervened-TK Rajendran,Chennai Police Commissioner #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/1gsm9FiQhd
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao forwards the #Jallikattu bill to President Pranab Mukherjee for his consent
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
All south bound trains will run as per schedule on normal routes with immediate effect: Southern Railways #jallikattu
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
#Jallikattu bill passed,must end this with celebration.Appeal people dont let it slip in hands of anti-social elements: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar pic.twitter.com/g1qun0M3eY
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
I am happy that #jallikattu will happen and I respect the culture and will of the TN people: K Kavitha (TRS MP from Nizamabad,Telangana) pic.twitter.com/owmPb6Pk6g
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
People for Animals, an NGO of which Union Minister Maneka Gandhi is the Chairperson, today said it had not challenged in court the jallikattu ordinance promulgated by the Tamil Nadu government and termed as "false and mischievous" reports to the contrary. "It is noticed that some news channels in Tamil Nadu have reported that the Ordinance regarding jallikattu issued by the state government has been challenged before the Supreme Court by the People for Animals.
It is hereby clarified this news is not only false but also mischievous," People for Animals said in a release. "It is being spread by some channels to mislead and misguide the people of Tamil Nadu," it said. Asserting that no such petition had been filed by it in the Supreme Court, The NGO said, "All concerned are requested not to follow any rumours on this issue." The Tamil Nadu government has promulgated the ordinance for the conduct of jallikattu after a three-year ban on the bull taming sport.
Tamil Nadu: Police deployed to remove protesters from a railway track in Madurai #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/BR1DMUKc7f
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Tamil Nadu: Protest at Coimbatore's Gandhipuram Junction; 5 people injured, 1 critical. Heavy Police deployment in the area #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/XKILZi2m08
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Jallikattu Bill passed unanimously in TN Assembly: AIADMK
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam tables #Jallikattu bill in Assembly
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Meanwhile, a report in NDTV claims that student movement against Jallikattu is over. One of the main faces of the movement, Raghava Lawrence, a famous movie producer and choreographer, said: "Whoever is still sitting there is not a part of our movement." He said "It's time for us to celebrate our success."
Rajinikanth appeals protesters to end their protest. Says miscreants trying to hijack protest & bring bad name to them #jallikattu pic.twitter.com/WMz8kkqmn8
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Stressing that the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments are "sensitive" towards the culture and ethos of the state, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today appealed to those agitating on the Jallikattu issue to give up their stir as steps have been taken to address their concerns. Taking exception to the attack on the NDA government over the issue, he alleged that the bull-taming sport suffered setbacks during the previous UPA rule. "I appeal them to give up their agitation. The Centre and the state, we are sensitive to the ethos. Steps have been taken. The matter is being heard in the Supreme Court," Naidu told reporters here on the sidelines of a meeting of Geospatial World Forum.
Tamil Nadu CM O. Panneerselvam holds discussion with DGP, Home Secy & Chief Secy of the state regarding present situation in Tamil Nadu
Some political parties trying to take advantage of Jallikattu protests and trying to create anti-Centre sentiments: Venkaiah Naidu
Bill to replace Jallikattu ordinance to be tabled this evening
The much-expected bill to replace the Tamil Nadu government's Jallikattu ordinance will be tabled in the state assembly this evening, Speaker P Dhanapal said.
"Considering the situation, the bill will be moved when the House meets at 5 PM today," he told reporters.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Business Advisory Council which decides on the agenda and duration of a particular session of the state assembly.
HC declines to hear matter on police action on students
The Madras High Court has declined to hear a matter raised in open court about police action on pro-Jallikattu protesters at Marina Beach, epicentre of the stir for the past one week.
Fire at Ice House Police Station near Marina Beach in Chennai, Police disperse protesters
Police forcefully remove protesters in Madurai's Alanganallur
# Tamil Nadu assembly session begins, Jallikattu bill to be tabled.
# DMK walks out from the assembly as Tamil Nadu Governor speaks.
Jallikattu supporters form human chain at Chennai's Marina Beach
We urge all students to kindly support us, we are not a separate country but a state of India. Police beating us: Protester at Marina Beach
#WATCH: Police trying to forcefully evict protesters from Chennai's Marina Beach #Jallikattu pic.twitter.com/Zc1tVs8Dbh
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017
Police partially clear Chennai's Marina Beach, protesters forcefully evicted
