TN political parties claim credit as Supreme Court rules in favour of Jallikattu

On 18 May, a five-member Supreme Court Constitution Bench upheld laws permitting Jallikattu, Kambala and bullock cart races.

ByVinodh Arulappan

Published May 19, 2023 | 3:43 AMUpdatedMay 19, 2023 | 7:14 AM

Edappadi K Palaniswami (AIADMK GS), MK Stalin (DMK chief), K Annamalai (BJP TN chief). (Wikimedia Commons)

The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday, 18 May, delivered its judgement upholding the Tamil Nadu amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which permits the conduct of the bull-taming sport Jallikattu.

Claiming a stake in the victory that the judgement meant, the ruling DMK stated that it was all due to the efforts of Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said that the success had been made possible only because of the legal struggles of the government led by the chief minister.

Newly-appointed Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, in a statement, said that it was the DMK chief who in 2017 initiated the protest in support of Jallikattu at Alanganallur.

“As a result of appointing senior advocates like Kapil Sibal, Rakesh Trivedi, and Mukul Rohatgi, and through them, the DMK government was able to put forth the right arguments before the Constitution Bench. This is the reason for the favourable judgement,” Rajaa said.

Also read: Constitution Bench upholds laws permitting Jallikattu and Kambala

It started with AIADMK: EPS 

On the other hand, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said that it was the AIADMK regime that brought the Act facilitating Jallikattu in the first place.

In a statement, he said, “It was the then-health minister Vijayabaskar C who personally met various Union ministers to seek support for Jallikattu when the issue was challenged on various platforms.”

He also said that the AIADMK had inducted itself in all the legal struggles of Jallikattu and finally won with the support of the people.

Also read: Jallikattu and the restrictions on the bulls raised by Dalits

Thank PM Modi: BJP chief Annamalai

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai, in a statement dedicated the Jallikattu victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He stated that in January 2016, the NDA government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, published a gazette notification allowing Jallikattu.

However, the Supreme Court stayed the government order, enabling the continuation of the ban.

“After the stay on the government order by the Supreme Court, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman requested the Tamil Nadu government to pass an ordinance. The same was done after much persuasion and deliberation in January 2017,” Annamalai said.

Annamalai also said that during the hearing of the case before the Constitution Bench, Tushar Mehta — the Solicitor General who appeared on behalf of the Union government in support of Jallikattu — argued on the lines of presidential assent to the ordinance and backed the case with necessary documents.

Also read: Jallikattu events kickstart with 2 deaths, CM gives solatium