All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi president R. Sarathkumar has said it was unfair of DMK president M. Karunanidhi to blame the AIADMK government for the ban on jallikattu.
After failing to do what it could have when it was a part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance at the Centre, it was quite unfortunate that Mr. Karunanidhi had chosen to blame the State government, he told journalists here on Sunday.
The State government had written to the Centre in this regard and was taking steps to have the ban lifted.
The actor-politician also criticised Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, who had said jallikattu was a western concept and was a sport that led to the killings of humans and animals. Jallikattu had been a part and parcel of Tamil culture and tradition since the Sangam period and there were references to it in the Sangam literature. The Minister’s statement only betrayed her ignorance, he said.
Mr. Sarathkumar refused to comment on the contradictory statements the BJP leaders made on jallikattu and other issues. He added that he was ready to campaign for the AIADMK in the Srirangam by-election but awaited a call from the campaign committee.
Asked about the demands for prohibition in the State, he said the government should open Tasmac-run liquor outlets only between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. as that would be the first step towards bringing down liquor consumption.
