The CM thanked PM Modi for his support.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam today thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support to jallikattu, an emotive issue which triggered mass protests across the state. "On behalf of the government and people of Tamil Nadu, I thank you for all your support and assistance in enabling jallikattu to be held in Tamil Nadu once again during the Pongal season, upholding the culture and tradition of the people of Tamil Nadu," he wrote to Modi in a letter.
Recalling his interaction with the Prime Minister on January 19 on the issue, Panneerselvam said the Tamil Nadu government had issued an Ordinance, enabling the conduct of the bull-taming sport, after obtaining the prior instructions of the President as envisaged under Article 213 of the Constitution. "The Ordinance was promulgated today by the government of Tamil Nadu and jallikattu is to be conducted with customary fervour all over the state with all the necessary safeguards," he said.
Earlier in the day, Modi said all efforts were being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu. "We are very proud of the rich culture of Tamil Nadu. All efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people," he tweeted. Modi said the Centre was fully committed to the progress of Tamil Nadu and will always work to ensure that the state scaled new avenues of progress.
The bill to replace the ordinance on Jallikattu will be tabled in State Assembly on January 23 when the first Assembly session begins. Meanwhile, people continue to flock to Chennai's Marina Beach in support of the bull taming sport Jallikattu. Earlier, with the Centre clearing a draft ordinance to allow jallikattu, the Madurai district administration said it is fully prepared to hold the bull-taming sport at Alanganallur. Alanganallur is famous for conducting jallikattu events.
District Collector K Veera Raghava Rao said everything is ready and they are waiting for the green signal from the government. Officials said with the Collector inspecting the venue, the sport is likely to be held in a day or two.
The Centre had last night cleared an ordinance on jallikattu, paving the way for the Tamil Nadu government to promulgate it in an effort to end the protests that have paralysed the state for the last five days Earlier, 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.
After heading an AIADMK MPs delegation to President Pranab Mukherjee, AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai thanked Prime Minister Narendra 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.
Recently, for the last one year, the AIADMK MPs have been seeking appointments with the Prime Minister to take up state issues, Thambidurai said.
"We waited for last three days for meeting the Prime Minister but we could not get his appointment. We hope that anytime he may call us," he said.
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