Jallikattu row: DMK to carry out 'rail roko' across TN

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan. 19 (ANI): Reacting on the ongoing protest on the bull-taming festival of Jallikattu, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working President MK Stalin on Thursday said that since the state government is not taking any serious steps on the same, the party is going to hold a rail roko protest on Friday. Stalin said the Attorney General of the Indian has communicated very clearly that the Tamil Nadu government can make ordinance on the traditional festival, but Chief Minister is not taking any step about it and is silent. "As the opposition leader of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, I also requested for special assembly session, but have received no reply so far, so we will do rail rako protest," he said. Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said Prime Minister Modi had conveyed to him that he gives the highest importance to cultural values of the state and assured the Centre's full support. The Prime Minister on his part appreciated the cultural significance of Jallikattu and observed that the matter is presently sub-judice. He, however, assured Panneerselvam that the Centre would be supportive of steps taken by the state government. The Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu, which is held during the harvest festival of Pongal, in 2014 on a petition by animal rights activists. Jallikattu hadn't been held for the last two years and was not held this year on Pongal despite multiple appeals from Tamil Nadu to the Centre to issue the ordinance. (ANI)