The Centre met the demands of the Tamil Nadu government on Friday when it cleared a draft ordinance forwarded by the state Chief Minister Pannerselvam on holding Jallikattu (bull-taming sport). The ordinance will now be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for his assent.
The decision comes in the wake of mass protests in Chennai, after the Supreme Court (SC) had considered the banning of the sport. Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi had requested the Apex Court to delay its judgment on the matter on Friday morning. But the Centre's decision to approve the ordinance came within hours.
Speaking on the issue, the AG said: "The People of Tamil Nadu are passionate about Jallikattu and the central government and the state are trying to resolve the issue. The Centre and the state are in talks to find a way out and our request is that the court should not deliver the judgment for at least a week."
Law ministry sources said that the state ordinance was approved with just "minor changes". Jallikattu, a traditional harvesting festival to tame the bull, was banned by the SC in 2014. Later too, the court rejected a Tamil Nadu petition seeking a review of its earlier decision and. In 2015 also, the court stayed a notification by the Centre allowing Jallikattu.
But even as Tamil Nadu celebrates "victory", the issue is not over yet. Animal rights activists are planning to approach the Apex Court before the expected commencement of Jallikattu on Sunday.
"Let the ordinance come. We may challenge it in the SC," said Anand Grover, counsel for the activists.
The issue may drag on for a long time as Jallikattu enthusiasts are not satisfied with the ordinance and want either the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act changed or the festival be termed as a sports event.
Top government sources said the Centre decided to clear the controversial ordinance proposing to amend certain provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act as the situation had turned very explosive in Tamil Nadu. Under the concurrent law, it was within its rights to effect changes in the law with the Presidential assent.
After getting assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, Pannerselvam on Friday morning met Union home minister Rajnath Singh and gave him the draft ordinance. He apprised him about the prevailing law-and-order situation.
The pressure mounted by the evening at Chennai's Marina beach, the epicentre of agitation, which swarmed with a multitude of people and was joined in by the who's who of Tamil politics and cinema stars like Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan.
Before sending the ordinance to the President, the ministries of environment, culture, home and law got engaged in hectic parleys to look at the pros and cons of the unprecedented situation that involves the SC and could also be seen buckling under pressure.
Union environment minister Anil Dave said on Friday that the deadlock will soon come to a "constructive" conclusion. While not making any mention of an ordinance to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, Dave said: "The Tamil Nadu government has submitted a proposal to the home minister and it is under consideration. The sentiments and cultural values of states should be protected." He appreciated the conduct of the protests in Tamil Nadu. Dave's ministry has supported the bull-taming sport.
Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad dropped hints that the government would pave the way for Jallikattu, saying the legislation appeared to be the "need of the society".
Prasad added that the Modi government respects the culture of Tamil Nadu and is mindful of the sentiments expressed by the people in the state through a peaceful protest. He also hit out at the previous UPA government for challenging the law on Jallikattu after the matter was flagged by the animal welfare board and termed it as a "legacy issue" for the present government.
The decision is being seen as one with political ramifications as it could help the BJP make inroads into the Dravidian state where it has remained on the margins.
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