Thambidurai blames Centre for 'confusion' over Jallikattu

AIADMK propaganda secretary and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai today blamed the Centre for its "studied silence" and what he called not taking necessary action on jallikattu in the past two years for leading to a "confusion".
Referring to the Centre telling the Supreme Court yesterday that it would withdraw its 2016 notification to allow jallikattu, he said, "The Centre could have avoided all these confusions if it had taken necessary action as was desired by late Chief Minister Amma (J Jayalalithaa) during the last two years."
He joined issue with Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her reported view that Tamil Nadu could have intervened in jallikattu last year.

He said her view "is not correct, not appropriate and not proper" and charged the Centre with holding on to "a studied silence," which led to the recent massive protests.
Thambidurai referred to her recent interview to an English daily, in which she had said reportedly that Tamil Nadu could have intervened in Jallikattu ban, as early as last year.
She had also told the daily that "had Tamil Nadu promulgated an Ordinance, the Centre would have supported it."

Claiming that former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had repeatedly requested the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi "to pave the way for conduct of Jallikattu," since 2015, he said, "So, it is not that the state was keeping silent all along on this issue."

As the Centre had included bulls in the prohibited list of performing animals in 2011, the Centre itself, by an executive order, could have revoked it, he said.
"It does not require the approval of the Parliament nor the President of India. Even if the case is sub judice, such an executive order can be passed, de-notifying bulls from the list (of animals prohibited to perform or exhibit)," he said in his address at a party meet.
His address was also released to the media.
He said the Centre could have also "delegated some powers to Tamil Nadu for holding Jallikattu under Section 37 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960."

On the Minister's view that a "continuous dialogue should have been held on this issue," he said his party was raising it in Parliament.
Also, earlier this month his party MPs wanted to meet Prime Minister Modi, however, they could not meet him. Hence, they called on Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave and made a request.
"Dave did not tell us that the state itself can take necessary action in the matter, which the Centre would support. But he said that the matter is sub judice," he said.
Further, since the state government had "concomitant problems" on holding Jallikattu, the state was looking towards the Centre for promulgating an ordinance, he said.

"So, there was a continuous dialogue and consistent interaction from our side, but the Centre was keeping a studied silence and that is why, we have the present situation in Tamil Nadu today," he alleged.