What is Jalikattu Festival?
Jalikattu is an age old traditional bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu. It is a part of a pongal celebration called Mattu Pongal Day which is the 3rd day out of the 4days of Pongal festival. The two words “Jali” means gold or silver coins and “Kattu” means tied. The coins are tied on the bull’s horns which is regarded as the prize for the one who manages to tame the bull. The bull that wins is used to service numerous cows preserving the native breed. It is renowned as an ancient ‘sport’, believed to have been practised some 2500 years ago. It is controversial because the sport often results in major injuries and even deaths.
WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS TO THE JALLI KATTU ISSUE-
The desirability of options are in the following order.
1) Central govt can pass a bill in both the houses of the parliament amending the PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ACT and get assent of president.
(no MP is going to oppose this bill then why is the central govt hesitating?)
2) If the parliament is not in session, an emergency ORDINANCE CAN BE issued by the president of India !
(President of India acts only on the advice of council of ministers)
3) State legislature can itself pass a new law and get the consent from the PRESIDENT OF INDIA (not from the governor)
This is as per Art 254 (2) of the constitution of India.)
4) Neither DMK nor AIADMK will oppose this bill .so if center will not do then the state can act, why has no one thought about this?
THE PRESENT CASE IN SUPREME COURT IS NOT A BAR FOR EXERCISING THESE OPTIONS
TIME SPENT IN SC AFTER 2014 is a waste.
The state or center should have acted as above said.
THE NEW LAWS STATE OR CENTRAL WILL BE CHALLENGED AGAIN BUT THE CASE WILL BE STRONG FOR JK.
Also this is for all the Non-Tamil friends-
Most of us who are using the social media knows that the Tamil people are fighting for the lift of ban on jallikkattu. Many believe people are fighting to potray the long lasting tradition &legacy of tamils, but that is not the only point. It is one of the reasons but not the sole reason.
There are few other points which has to be known.
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One important point is to save the Native cattle breeds. Only native breeds are used in Jallikattu.
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In TN there were 6 nativebreeds ,out of them one (Alambadi) is already declared extinct.The remaining breeds are Kangayam, Pulikulam, Umbalachery, Barugur and Malai Maadu.
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Stud bulls are reared by people for jallikattu. The ones that win are much in demand for servicing the cows.
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Small farmers cannot afford to keep stud bulls, so each village has a common temple bull which services the cows of the village.
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Jallikattu is the show where bulls are brought and exhibited. The ones which are most agile (and virile) are preferred by farmers.
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The calves from such bulls are in demand.Stud bulls are used for jallikattu and mating only. Experienced bulls enjoy the situation and display a well thought out exit from the vaadi vaasal. Many of them show off by shaking their heads as a warning.
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This shows their familiarity with the Jallikattu event. The main opposition is from the dairy lobby, which wants all native breeds to be eradicated.
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Events like jallikattu throw a spanner in their plans of creating commercial dairy farms with imported breeds just like in the West. They want the Jersey cows to be spread across the country by killing the native breed. If Jallikkattu is stopped , bulls will be sold to slaughter houses so there won’t be any native breed left out.
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Then this generation and forth coming Generations have to drink the Jersey cow milk which is a main cause for many health issues
We are protesting for the right cause and neither are we abusing the animals. What is written here is the voice of lakhs of tamilians and lets spread and share it wherever we can to get what we want!
Shared & Written by a Fellow Tamilian
Gossipwale
