NEW DELHI, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The ruling party in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has demanded the federal government to promulgate an ordinance to revive the banned Jallikattu, a traditional version of bull fighting sport, officials said on Wednesday.
V. K. Sasikala, the party head of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazagham (AIADMK), has written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to bring an ordinance to revive the sport.
Sasikala last month became the general secretary of AIADMK after the demise of chief minister Jayalalithaa.
"In her letter, V. K. Sasikala has written Jallikattu is inextricably linked to the rural and agrarian customs of Tamil Nadu and continuation of the tradition helps in the preservation of the native germ plasm of high value bulls," an AIADMK official said.
The AIDAMK in the letter has underlined that no cruelty was practiced on the animals in the state and bulls were being worshipped as a deity in Tamil Nadu.
"The ban on Jallikattu has incensed the public of Tamil Nadu and the youth in particular, and all efforts have to be taken to revoke it," the official quotes Sasikala as saying.
AIADMK has urged India's federal ministry of environment and forests to de-notify bulls from the list of performing animals through the ordinance route for the resumption of Jallikattu.
Jallikattu is banned since 2014 after animal rights activists seeking prevention of cruelty to animals cited to India's top court that bulls in the sport were "severely harmed".
Last year, India's federal government amended its order and issued a notification saying bulls may be continue to be exhibited or trained as a performing animal, at events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu subject to conditions and proper supervision. The government order evoked strong condemnation from animal rights bodies.
However, the Supreme Court of India suspended the federal government notification of allowing Jallikattu after petitions filed by various bodies, including Animal Welfare Board of India.
Meanwhile, a delegation of AIADMK lawmakers on Wednesday submitted a memorandum at Prime Minister's office in New Delhi, seeking removal of bulls from the list of performing animals through an ordinance for smooth conduct of Jallikattu this year.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday said he was hopeful of a favorable Supreme Court verdict for conducting Jallikattu in the state coinciding Poongal festival.
The Jallikattu festival involves men chasing bulls has been popular for centuries in Tamil Nadu.
