Chennai, January 22 (PTI): Former Indian Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju said here on Sunday that the apprehensions of sections of protesters seeking a “permanent solution” were unfounded as the ordinance to allow Jallikattu will be replaced by an Act of the Tamil Nadu legislature which will be the “permanent solution”.
“Some people say that the Jallikattu ordinance is only a temporary measure. It is true that an ordinance issued by the Governor is only temporary, vide Article 213(2) of the Constitution of India,” he said.
However, the “Tamil Nadu legislature is meeting tomorrow and will replace the Ordinance by an Act, which will be permanent,” he stated in his blog post today.
“It is true that this Act may be challenged in the court, but this challenge is unlikely to succeed, since the assent of the President has been obtained under Article 254(2). So the apprehensions of some people are really unfounded,” he said.
The opinion of the former Supreme Court judge assumes significance against the background of continuing agitations in several parts of Tamil Nadu seeking what they called “a permanent solution.” Such protesters also have refused to hold jallikattu in places including Alanganallur in Madurai District.
Praising Tamil Nadu people for the “glorious victory” to conduct Jallikattu through peaceful agitations the former Chairman of Press Council of India said “its significance is that perhaps the first time after independence, a popular movement has cut through the barriers of caste and religion, and achieved victory.”
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.
TN Chief Minister O Panneerselvam informed the mediapersons that a Bill to replace Jallikattu ordinance will be moved tomorrow at Assembly.
Meanwhile, protests in Chennai’s marina beach continued for the sixth day.
Musician Hip Hop Tamizha Adhi whose ‘Takkaru Takkaru’ song is said to be one of the main triggers to this massive protest for Jallikattu distanced himself from the protests saying that it has lost direction.
After much buzz in social media about Adhi’s whereabouts, since he was not seen after first three days of the protest, the 27-year-old musician on Sunday posted a video in his Facebook page. In this 14-minute video, he clarified that he was safe and rejected claims that he was taken into police custody.
He also said that he left the protests at the VOC Park in Coimbatore as he was ’emotionally hurt’ on seeing posters, pamphlets and speeches in the crowd trying to arouse anti-national feelings by abusing politicians including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said some even tried to create a communal divide among volunteers, showed disrespect towards the national flag and placed demand for a separate country, while the state police continued to supporting them by providing protection.
“The protest predominantly by student community was travelling in the right direction for the first three days towards revoking ban on Jallikattu, but now it has lost track. Some instances have pushed me to an extent where I do not want to be a part of the protest any longer,” he added.
However, he was optimistic that Jallikattu would get a “permanent solution” with the government issuing an ordinance. Expressing displeasure over having his photos with a few other personalities, who call themselves as the future leaders, he claimed that he was only working on creating awareness among people and has no interest in politics.
(The featured image at the top is that of Retired Indian Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju)
