Jallikattu ban: Overnight protests in Chennai, protesters demand ban on PETA

Close to 5,000 people have gathered at the Marina beach in Chennai and held overnight protests

Chennai, Jan 17: There is no end to protests against the ban on the bull-taming festival of Jallikattu. Close to 5,000 people have gathered at the Marina beach in Chennai and held overnight protests, even demanding a ban on People for Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA.

The police have not been able to pacify the protesters who continue to demand a meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselavam.

Overnight protests were also staged in Madurai, where over 200 people were taken into preventive custody on Tuesday morning.

Tamil film stars Suriya Sivakumar and Vijay have also come out in support of ongoing protests and lashed out at PETA for its opposition to the bull taming sport. Suriya said the protest by young volunteers was reflective of the common mood of the people of Tamil Nadu while Vijay said Jallikattu was an identity of Tamils.

“The group called PETA which won in the court of law by carrying out a campaign of lies that Jallikattu was inimical to bulls has lost in the people’s court.”It is paradoxical to see those aiding extinction of native breeds talk about cruelty to bulls,” Suriya said.

The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on the practice citing animal welfare issues. Jallikattu has remained banned for the past three years. Animal rights activists had appealed against the tradition at the Supreme Court citing atrocities to the bulls as a reason.