Jallikattu row: DMK walks out from Tamil Nadu Assembly following Governor’s address

Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday met for the first time since the death of late CM J Jayalalithaa.

Chennai, Jan 23: The leaders of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday staged a walk out from the Tamil Nadu Assembly as party’s Working President MK Stalin condemned the use of force by the government on the protesters.

DMK walks out from the assembly as Tamil Nadu Governor speaks. #Jallikattu

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 23, 2017

Meanwhile, some reports suggest that the DMK has decided to boycott the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

“Government shouldn’t have crackdown when the protests were going on peacefully,” Stalin was quoted as saying.

The move came on a day when the AIADMK government is all set to move a Bill to replace the ordinance on Jallikattu in the Tamil Nadu Assembly while, seeking an amendment of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The Bill would replace the Ordinance, promulgated on Saturday for conducting the bull taming sport after a three-year-long ban imposed by the Supreme Court. The Ordinance is being seen as a temporary measure by the protesters hence, they have sought a ‘permanent solution’ for the conduct of Jallikattu.

The state Assembly is meeting for the first time after late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s demise on December 5, 2016.

Earlier, Union Law Ministry had reportedly approved the ordinance on Jallikattu that would pave the way to end the ongoing agitation in Tamil Nadu. This may enable Tamil Nadu to once again start the bull taming sport which was banned by the Supreme Court. As per the reports, the Ordinance was signed by the Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and approved by the Ministry of Environment, it was been sent to the President of India for his assent.