Madurai, Aug 31:
The AIADMK will stage a protest near the Alanganallur Jallikattu venue on September 3 against the remarks of a TVK MLA in the Tamil Nadu Assembly allegedly describing Jallikattu as harmful to youngsters, party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Sunday.
In a statement, Palaniswami condemned the remarks attributed to Solavandan TVK MLA Karuppaiah, saying they had hurt the sentiments of young people and the public.
He described Jallikattu as an important symbol of Tamil identity, culture, tradition and valour and accused the TVK government and its legislators of making irresponsible statements.
The AIADMK said the protest would be held by its Madurai city, Madurai suburban East and Madurai suburban West district units.
The demonstration is scheduled for 9.30 am on September 3 near the Alanganallur Vadivasal.
Former minister Sellur K Rajoo, former minister R B Udhayakumar and former minister V V Rajan Chellappa are among the party leaders who will lead the protest.
Palaniswami also recalled the political and legal battles surrounding Jallikattu.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on the traditional sport in 2014 following litigation initiated by animal welfare organisations.
According to Palaniswami, the then AIADMK government had subsequently pressed the Centre to remove the ban, while the issue became the focus of a massive youth-led protest across Tamil Nadu in January 2017.
He said the AIADMK government subsequently brought an ordinance on January 21, 2017, enabling Jallikattu events to resume.
A permanent amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was later passed unanimously by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, with Jallikattu legally recognised in the context of Tamil cultural heritage, he said.
Palaniswami also referred to the Supreme Court Constitution Bench verdict of May 18, 2023, which upheld the Tamil Nadu law and allowed Jallikattu to continue.
He claimed that the AIADMK’s political and legal efforts had played a major role in securing the continuation of the sport.
The September 3 protest is therefore expected to combine opposition to the TVK MLA’s remarks with a broader AIADMK attack on the functioning of the ruling government.
The controversy over Jallikattu has once again brought Tamil cultural identity and political ownership of the sport to the centre of Tamil Nadu’s political debate.