Urging the Centre and State to take immediate steps to conduct jallikattu during Pongal, cadre of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, members of the public and youth staged protests along with bulls in various parts of Salem and Namakkal districts on Friday.
Over 750 cadre took part in the Salem protest that was led by west district secretary S.R. Sivalingam. They asserted that Pongal and jallikattu were inseparable.
At Nagarmalai Adivaram, residents hoisted black flags atop their houses to condemn the ban on the sport.
In Namakkal, a protest was staged near municipal bus stand in which over 500 cadre participated with bulls.
Over 1,000 youths with 20 bulls took out a rally through main roads. Over 500 cadre, led by Paramathy Velur MLA K.S. Moorthy, staged a demonstration in Tiruchengode.
ERODE
In Erode, a rally organised by a group of youths drew such a massive response that the numbers overwhelmed
the police personnel stationed at short notice at vantage points along rally route from VOC Park to Kaalaimadu Silai Junction.
Over 2000 motorcycles, five cars and some decorated bulls marked the response to the protest call given out only on social media.
The participants said no cruelty was meted out to the bulls. Eru Thazhuvudhal in Tamil, they claimed, meant embracing the bulls out of affection after offering prayers. There was no question of taming or inflicting injuries.
