By Online Desk

After five days of relentless protests in Tamil Nadu demanding that the ban on Jallikattu be lifted, an ordinance was cleared by the state government on Saturday, satisfying the demand of the protestors, and paving the way to hold the event on Sunday morning. Protestors in some places, however, amended their demand, now seeking what they believed would be a more permanent solution, and prevented Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam from inaugurating Madurai's iconic Alanganallur Jallikattu on Sunday morning.

Here are the latest updates:

State govt press note says schools and colleges will "function as usual" from tomorrow #JallikattuProtests @NewIndianXpress — J Santhosh (@Santhosh_TNIE) January 22, 2017

Hiphop Tamizha, a pop figure who helped make the Jallikattu protest popular, distances himself from the protest. The popular music director in a Facebook live video on his page said that the protest has been hijacked by anti-social and anti-national elements. The demands have digressed to communal, anti-national, abusive slogans. He will address a press meet this evening in Chennai along with Dr P Rajasekaran of Jallikattu Peravai, Karthikeya Sivasenapathy of Kangayam Cattle Research Foundation, and Rajesh of Veeravilayattu Association.

ALSO READ: At the cusp of victory, Aadhi’s Takkaru Takkaru becomes anthem of agitators

Call to withdraw Jallikattu protests get louder in social media circles. READ MORE

Chief Minister O Pannerselvam, who was to inaugurate #jallikattu at Alanganallur today, returning from Madurai to Chennai. Photo - KK Sundar pic.twitter.com/RAMJTD25jw — gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 22, 2017

AIADMK party member came out with his bull for rekla race at Codissia road in Coimbatore on Sunday. Police have removed the suspected protestors from where the race is conducted at Codissia road in Coimbatore.

AIADMK party member came out with his bull for rekla race at Codissia road in Coimbatore on Sunday. (EPS | Prakash Chellamuthu)

As per sources, there were only four pairs of bulls in a race that usually has 500 participants. And among these four, only one pair of bulls were racing bulls; the others were bullocks usually used to pull carts. This was reportedly an attempt by the government, using AIADMK members, to bring things back to normalcy. But the protestors wouldn't have it, saying they wanted a permanent solution.

Police stop the protesters from entering the area where rekla race was conducted in Coimbatore on Sunday. (EPS | Prakash Chellamuthu)

One more youth injured in Raapoosal Jallikattu held near Pudukkottai is being rushed to Tiruchy GH. @NewIndianXpress — S Deepak Karthik (@Deepak_TNIE) January 22, 2017

As per the latest reports, thirteen persons have suffered injuries. The number of wounded is likely to go up.

Two killed in #jallikattu at Pudukottai. S Mohan (in pix) with injuries to lower hip, and Raja who had chest injuries. pic.twitter.com/12RqToxkxs — gopu mohan (@gopumohan_TNIE) January 22, 2017

One dead in Rapoosal, Pudukottai during Jallikattu on Sunday. The villagers now want the festival to be stopped, according to latest reports.

TN Chief Minister O Panneerselvam informed the mediapersons that a Bill to replace Jallikattu ordinance will be moved tomorrow at Assembly.

Jallikattu is also suggested to have been held in a hurry on Sunday since courts are shut.

Meanwhile, protests in Chennai's marina beach continued for the sixth day.

People at Marina beach protesting for Jallikattu. (Romani Agarwal | EPS)

People staged road roko and protests in several parts of the state on Sunday morning, especially in Allanganallur and Coimbatore.

However, protestors have been displeased and demanded a more permanent solution by amending Prevention to Cruelty of Animals (PCA) Act.</s>Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will inaugurate jallikattu in Madurai’s Alanganallur on Sunday after the Centre cleared an ordinance to overrule the Supreme Court ban on the bull-taming sport. Other state ministers will flag off the sport in their own districts. “The ordinance was promulgated by the Tamil Nadu government and jallikattu is to be conducted with the customary fervour all over the state with all necessary safeguards,” the chief minister had said.

Even as thousands gathered in the region to witness the sport for which protests had erupted across the state in the past few days, supporters demanded a permanent solution because the ordinance would lapse in six months. “We want a permanent solution, the one we have got now is temporary. We won’t let jallikattu happen today,” a supporter told ANI. Protestors remained put at Chennai’s Marina beach on Sunday as the state prepared to hold the SC-banned sport.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader S Prakash hailed the state government and the Centre’s efforts to pave way for jallikattu. “The state government has to bend before the will of the people. Ultimately, it is people power that matters in democracy,” he told The Indian Express.

The Bill to replace the ordinance will be tabled in the Assembly on January 23, the day House session begins in the state. The jallikattu ordinance was cleared by Tamil Nadu Governor Vidya Sagar Rao on Saturday. Earlier, it was approved by the Centre and the president.</s>Chennai: After bringing in an Ordinance to sidestep the Supreme Court-imposed ban on Jallikattu, the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu is now hoping for a permanent solution to the issue and is also exploring legal options to ban the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which supports the ban.

“We will also work towards banning PETA. That’s the other commitment we have made and we will work towards it. We are exploring all legal options. We don’t want to take any step that gets struck down in the court of law… As our general secretary Chinamma (AIADMK chief VK Sasikala) has committed, it will happen,” Tamil Nadu Education Minister K Pandiarajan told CNN News18.

The Ordinance was brought in by the AIADMK government after four days of protests, mainly by the youth, at Chennai’s Marina Beach. The Ordinance has been okayed by the Centre and has been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for his approval.

Asked why the government waited for protests to snowball before bringing in the Ordinance, Pandiarajan denied any delay. “As Chinamma has said, we believe the BJP government (at the Centre) will keep its word. They had promised the whole world that they would bring in the Ordinance at the central level. They say that they were trying to move an amendment in Parliament, but it was during the last session,” he said.

“There is no delay. As far as we are concerned, it has happened at the right time. We couldn’t have done this earlier because we were waiting for the central government to pass the Ordinance and follow through with an amendment in Parliament. That did not happen. So we have taken the step whereby a central Act could be amended through a state government initiative confined to the state. It needed presidential assent and the concurrence of three central government ministries. We stood by the belief that the central government would bring the Ordinance themselves. Since they could not do that due to internal contradictions of the BJP, we have done it at the right time,” Pandiarajan said.

Admitting that the Ordinance was not a permanent solution and that an amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was needed, he said: “The Ordinance has been passed to save time and to conduct the sport as quick as possible. I think an even more permanent solution is creating sanctuaries for the endangered species of native bulls as announced by the Chief Minister. We would also be mapping 7,000 odd bulls which are actually threatened and ensure that the curve gets reversed. As many as 130 breeds of native bulls in India have shrunk to 37 over the last many years and we will try to reverse this trend. Tamil Nadu has also lost one of its bull breeds and we would like to see this trend getting reversed along with respecting tradition and culture and ensure that right processes are set in place.”

Pandiarajan said that the Ordinance will be passed at the earliest and that preparations are happening at many places for the Vaadi Vaasal (small gate opened to let the bull out during Jallikattu) to open.</s>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, a day after the Centre cleared the Jallikattu ordinance, said all possible efforts are being made currently to reinstate the sport and fulfil the cultural desire of Tamil Nadu.

“We are very proud of the rich culture of Tamil Nadu. All efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people,” Modi tweeted.

The PM explained that the central government is entirely supportive towards the prosperity of Tamil Nadu and will always ensure the state’s welfare and progress.

Modi’s statement comes after an ordinance for revoking the Jallikattu ban was approved by the Centre, which came after four days of unrelentless protests (still continuing) across Tamil Nadu and other parts of India.

The Union ministries of Home, Law and Environment cleared the ordinance last night. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Paneerselvam had met the Prime Minister day before yesterday to seek ordinance.</s>Jallikattu, the bull taming sport, was conducted in several districts in Tamil Nadu on Sunday amid protests in various places. Protesters continued to swell in numbers across the state, including Chennai’s Marina Beach, the epicentre of the stir for the last six days.

The protests continued in Madurai’s Alanganallur where people refused to hold the famous sport till there was a permanent solution and not just an ordinance. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam could not inaugurate the bull taming sport at the scheduled time at Alanganallur and was forced to leave for Chennai.

Alanganallur is the only place where Jallikattu is held as an official function of the government. The protesters raised slogans that ordinance was only a temporary measure and demanded a permanent solution for holding the sport, besides a ban on animal rights group PETA.

Jallikattu took place in Pudukottai and Erode districts while a bullock cart race was organised in Coimbatore. According to NDTV reports, the sport was held in Manapparai in Tiruchirappali district in a peaceful manner. The ruling AIADMK tweeted that more than 500 young people tried to tame 100 bulls in the event. No political representative was present at the event. In Udumalai and Thirupur, more than 30 bulls were brought out. The reports said that in Pudukottai, the Jallikattu event was inaugurated by Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar and hundreds of youngsters are taking part in the event.

During the event in Pudukottai district, where scores of people and several bulls took part, two persons were killed at Rapoosal and 83 others suffered minor injuries. A man died due to dehydration in Madurai during protests, police said. The people injured during the incident in Pudukottai district were discharged after providing first-aid, they said. The police said that two persons were killed when they were gored by a bull.

READ | Jallikattu is back, but can tradition justify these deaths?

In Madurai, Chandramohan (48) from Jaihindpuram, died due to dehydration when he was taking part in the protests along with students and youths, police said. At Tirunelveli, some students, including girls, fainted at a protest venue following which they were given medical treatment, police said.

After Panneerselvam could not inaugurate the bull taming sport at Alanganallur, he said that the people there could organise the sport at time of their choice. Speaking to reporters in Madurai on his way back to Chennai, the Chief Minister said: “Jallikattu is being held at several places in the state with proper arrangements. At Alanganallur it will be held when the people want it. “Jallikattu cannot be stopped by anybody,” Panneerselvam added.

After Alanganallur, Panneerselvam was expected to inaugurate Jallikattu at Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul. However, there were protests there too, raising the same demand.As protesters demanded a permanent solution for holding the sport, Panneerselvam said, the “State’s Jallikattu Ordinance route is permanent, robust and sustainable, will be made into a law in the coming Assembly session”.

An Ordinance has been promulgated for holding Jallikattu, after which the sport was organised in several parts of the state. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court anticipating challenge to its ordinance allowing Jallikattu in the state. Following unrelenting protests, DMK and other Opposition parties urged the Centre to take steps for conducting the sport annually without any hindrance.

Jallikattu, a popular game in Tamil Nadu, involves young men latching on to the hump of bulls. Those who manage to stay put even after the animal makes three jumps is declared a winner. At times, the participants are thrown off the back of bulls or get gored by the animal.

The events took place after a week-long state-wide protests by students and youths and followed the promulgation of an ordinance by the Tamil Nadu government amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to hold Jallikatttu. The sport was banned by the Supreme Court in May 2014.</s>Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Sunday said that enough security arrangements have been made for Jallikattu which is being organised across the state. After nearly three-year-long ban, the traditional bull-taming sport ‘Jallikattu’ made a grand return in Tamil Nadu on Sunday with governor Vidyasagar Rao promulgating an ordinance in the face of massive protests that paralysed the state for the last five days. The CM also added that the government will bring the draft of a permanent law on Jallikattu in the state assembly soon.

However, the Tamil Nadu CM faced protests today, as the protesters demanded a permanent solution for organising the sport. Therefore the CM was not allowed to inaugurate event in Alanganallur village in Madurai which was suppose to be inaugrated at 10 am on Sunday.

Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao on Saturday promulgated the ordinance for conducting the sport. Chief Minister O Panneerselvam assured the sport to be organised across the state. Yesterday, Panneerselvam also thanked the Centre for its support and added that since the ordinance will last for six months, the government will formulate a new law so that the sport can take place without hindrance.

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Meanwhile, protesters in Alanganallur village have blocked roads demanding a permanent solution for Jallikattu issue. Villagers have staged a sit-in protest demanding a permanent solution for the issue of banning the bull-taming sport Jallikattu.

ANI quoted a protester Bharathi Kannamma as saying that people don’t want a temporary relief but a permanent solution. People also demand ban on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Several trains were also cancelled due to protest. Not only in Alanganallur, but Sri Lankan refugees too stage protest in support of Jallikattu in Rameswaram refugee camp.</s>Two people were killed during jallikattu at Pudukottai district, while one person died during protests in Madurai in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. The bullfighting sport began on Sunday, after the state and central governments had passed an ordinance revoking the Supreme Court ban on it. Their move had followed massive protests in Tamil Nadu, demanding the ban be lifted.

Protests in some places are continuing, as the ordinance is only effective for six months.

Besides the two men killed, around 83 people were injured in the unregulated event in Pudukottai. Earlier, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had said all events were regulated and that security arrangements had been made across the state to ensure people’s safety.

Panneerselvam had not been allowed in Madurai, which is known for jallikattu, as protestors demanded a long-term solution to the ban on the game. State ministers had flagged off jallikattu organised in their districts on Sunday morning, after the ordinance was passed.</s>After the Centre allowed the passing of the ordinance lifting Jallikattu ban and thereafter the Tamil Nadu Assembly clearing the bill to legalise the bull taming sport, different states have come forward demanding the lifting of the ban imposed on sports involving animals and even birds – which are considered as a part of various rituals and beliefs in various cultures. Karnataka is the most recent to step forward with the demand to allow the organising of Kambala, a traditional annual buffalo race (bulls and their owner run full tilt in ankle deep water). Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said his government was in favour of holding it and asked the Centre to take a favourable stand as it did for Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.

“We are in favour of Kambala, we are for Kambala. We pressurise the Union government to take a stand in favour of this (Kambala), similar to the way in which it favoured Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu,” he told reporters here.

To a question on large-scale protests planned by Kambala committees, he said “…they are protesting for Kambala, we are also in favour of Kambala.”

Spurred by the Jallikattu stir in Tamil Nadu, Kambala Committees had met in Mangaluru yesterday to strategise their agitation, where it was decided to hold a massive protest on January 28 in Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district.

Symbolic Kambala, a traditional annual buffalo race in the marshy fields in coastal districts of the state, is also likely to be held as a mark of protest.

Karnataka High Court’s division bench, headed by Chief Justice S K Mukherjee, in an interim order in November 2016 had stayed holding of Kambala on a petition by PETA challenging it in view of orders passed by the Supreme Court on Jallikattu. “Ban on Kambala is an after effect, on the basis of the ban on Tamil Nadu’s Jallikattu. The matter is coming before the High Court on January 30, I’m hopeful that we will get justice and there will be no need for any agitation…” he said.

Hoping that the Centre would take a favourable stand for getting approval for Kambala, he said, “The state government should also approach the Centre, and for no reason should Kambala be stopped….”

Before this Assam too had sought permission to organise bulbul fights during Bhogli bihu and citing that the festival is not complete without it.</s>The government is making all efforts to fulfil the “cultural aspirations” of Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, amid rising hopes of a quick lifting of the Jallikattu ban that has sparked a massive movement in the state.

Modi’s comments came a day after the Centre cleared an ordinance drafted by the state government to circumvent a Supreme Court ban on the popular bull-taming sport which is at the centre of a bruising debate between animal rights activists and its proponents.

“(The) Central government is fully committed to the progress of Tamil Nadu and will always work to ensure the state scales new avenues of progress,” Modi tweeted.

“We are very proud of the rich culture of Tamil Nadu. All efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people.”

Read More| Jallikattu matters: It’s a symbol of self-assertion, people power in Tamil Nadu

On Friday, the Supreme Court, which had banned the sport in 2014, agreed not to pass any interim order for a week after the Cenrte said it was trying to resolve the issue.

Legal experts, however, say the fresh ordinance – likely to be promulgated on Saturday or Sunday – too may not pass legal scrutiny.

“Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, the joyous news will come. For sure, Jallikattu will be held in Tamil Nadu,” chief minister O Panneerselvam said in Chennai after returning from New Delhi . He met Modi on Thursday.

The ban on Jallikattu triggered mass protests across the state while thousands congregated on Marina beach, the Chennai landmark, in support of Jallikattu. The protests spread abroad too, with the Tamil diaspora holding rallies in Sri Lanka, Britain and Australia.

Read More| Not just a cock and bull story: The pain of Jallikattu ‘heroes’ is real</s>Chennai/Madurai: Two persons were killed and scores injured during Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu's popular bull taming sport, which was held on Sunday in parts of the state with tens of thousands taking part.

It was held at Pudukottai, Trichy and Erode districts while a bullock cart race was organised in Coimbatore, organisers said.

At Pudukottai, two bull valuters were severely injured and died on the way to a hospital, police said.

On the other hand, a protester, 48-year-old Chandramohan from Jaihindpuram, also died due to dehydration in Madurai city when he was taking part in a demonstration along with students and youths.

Protesters at Alanganallur in Madurai, however, refused to conduct the sport, steadfast in their demand for a "permanent solution" to ensure unhindered annual conduct of the sport.

Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who had announced that he would inaugurate Jallikattu at Alanganallur, had to stay back in a hotel in Madurai following the stir there.

Later, he was expected to inaugurate Jallikattu at Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul. However, there were protests there too, raising the same demand.

Groups of agitators continued their protests at several locations also in the state, raising the same demand. At the Marina beach, epicentre of the stir for the last six days, protesters continued to stay put demanding a permanent solution for holding the sport besides a ban on animal rights group PETA.

Speaking to reporters in Madurai on his way back to Chennai, the Chief Minister said: "Jallikattu is being held at several places in the state with proper arrangements. At Alanganallur it will be held when the people want it.

"Jallikattu cannot be stopped by anybody," Panneerselvam added, as per IANS.

The AIADMK leader said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to assist the state government in its efforts to hold Jallikattu.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has filed a caveat in the Supreme anticipating challenge to its ordinance allowing Jallikattu in the state.

Following unrelenting protests, DMK and other Opposition parties urged the Centre to take steps for conducting the sport annually without any hindrance.

DMK working president MK Stalin urged the chief minister to hold talks with protesters and "stop insisting" that the ordinance route will yield permanent results.

"Despite its safeguards, an ordinance that does not enjoy the confidence of people will not yield any practical results. Therefore, the CM should stop insisting that the ordinance route is permanent and talk to the protesting youths and explain to them the state government's efforts for a permanent solution to the matter and pacify them," he said, as per PTI.

BJP leader and Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan urged the protesters to withdraw their agitation across the state, including on the Marina Beach.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "explained" the legal situation in this regard but fully backed the state's efforts to hold the bull taming sport.

The sport involves young men latching on to the hump of bulls. One who manages to stay put even after the animal makes three jumps is declared a winner.

At times, the participants are thrown off the back of bulls or get gored by the animal.
The Indian state government of Tamil Nadu lifts its ban on the sport of Jallikattu, following five days of protests by demonstrators against the ban.