A notification issued by Ministry of Environment on Thursday night now allows Jallikattu, but has in fact irked several top ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet.
Speaking to Millennium Post Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, when asked if the Environment Ministry had sought his opinion before issuing the order, said, “They had asked me regarding this issue and I had advised them that if you can meet the concerns of the court which are expressed in the judgment then you may consider it but not unless if you don’t meet the concerns of the report.”
Asked if he was ‘strictly’ against and had reservations in allowing it he said, “Strictly would be a wrong word. I told them unless you meet the conditions of the court, or else it should not be issued.”
In May last year, the Supreme Court Bench of Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Misra had said: “Forcing a bull and keeping it in the waiting area for hours and subjecting it to the scorching sun is not for the animal’s well-being.
Forcing and pulling the bull by a nose rope into the narrow, closed enclosure or ‘vadi vassal’ (entry point), subjecting it to all forms of torture, fear, pain and suffering by forcing it to go the arena and also over-powering it in the arena by bull tamers, are not for the well-being of the animal.” By allowing Jallikattu, the Government’s notification nullifies the apex court’s order.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), in fact, had last week advised the Environment Ministry not to overturn the SC’s judgment. A letter dated 31 December 2015 from AWBI Chairman Maj Gen (Dr) RM Kharb to the Environment Ministry had expressed “strong opposition” to the reported intention of the government to allow Jallikattu and other such events.
The letter stated, “We, the AWBI continue to strongly oppose conduct of these events and urge you (the ministry) to please reconsider Government’s decision to allow conduct of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, bullock cart races at Maharashtra / Punjab and other parts of the country, kambala in Karnataka, and other similar events.”
The notification has also irked many senior ministers in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. “The Ministry of Environment’s executive order overrides SC’s ruling banning events such as Jallikattu. The Ministry’s move is in fact illegal,” said sources close to a Cabinet Minister.
“The Law Ministry chose not to take a stand on the issue. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had expressed disinclination on allowing Jallikattu. Even the Maharashtra government is very upset with this order as it goes against their move to ban beef in the state,” said the source.
“Historically Jallikattu is not a traditional or religious event, it is purely for entertainment. The bull is tortured for a week before the event takes place and made to consume alcohol. In a deranged state the bull is made to run out where 16-18 boys are supposed to break its horns and several of them also die during this entire process,” explained an animal rights activist.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday slammed the government’s move saying, “Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has succumbed to pressure from Tamil Nadu.”
During the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance government, Ramesh who was the Environment Minister had banned cows and bulls being used for any entertainment purposes. Even the Madras High Court had refused to stay the operation of the government’s notification prohibiting the use of bulls as ‘performing animals.’ After this, came the 2014 SC ruling changed the entire discourse by banning it completely.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP MP and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan thanked PM Modi for giving permission for conducting Jallikattu this year. “There were chances that this more than 200 year old tradition would be discontinued. This event was facing a crisis, but our Prime Minister has made all the arrangements for its conduct,” he said.