How the Jallikattu uprising could save Panneerselvam
On 14 January, speaking at a Thuglak event to remember Cho Ramaswamy, superstar Rajinikanth said an “abnormal situation” is existing in Tamil Nadu after Jayalalithaa's death. His words were prophetic because the Marina siege is indeed visible proof that Tamil Nadu and its capital Chennai are witnessing quite an abnormal situation.
When in recent memory, after all, has a leaderless agitation commanded such a large gathering at an iconic location in any part of the country? What's more, it even mounted so much pressure that within 30 hours chief minister O Panneerselvam was on the flight from Chennai to New Delhi to meet the Prime minister. The decision of the Jallikattu protest to keep political parties at bay left the white veshtis squirming at the political untouchability. It was as if Tamil Nadu felt their presence would taint the purity of the mission and render it unsuccessful.
The only body that is not under pressure is the Supreme Court that has to give its verdict on a batch of petitions on the conduct of Jallikattu. It refused to take cognisance of the protests on the ground in Chennai. Given that it banned the sport in May 2014 and refused Tamil Nadu's plea to reconsider its verdict, there is little chance that it will give an order allowing the bull-taming or bull-embracing sport.
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| In the internal battle between Sasikala and Panneerselvam, this is the latter's chance to assert his position. [Photo: Indiatoday.in] |
But the politicians are itching to embrace the mass of humanity that has taken over the Marina. Because in the last three days, the political canvas of Tamil Nadu has undergone a sea change.
The ruling AIADMK is clearly under strain. It has survived on autopilot since September when former chief minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital. Though the party managed a smooth transition of power, the last month has seen it focus more on VK Sasikala consolidating herself in a position of power rather than anything else. The Jallikattu protest took the powers-that-be by surprise.
The opposition parties and the DMK in particular, would have hoped to ride on the students protest to corner the ruling AIADMK. It is commendable that the protesters have not allowed that. It would have been the easiest thing then for the AIADMK to impute political motives to the agitation and kill it.
But obviously the anti-AIADMK political class senses an opportunity. The PMK has threatened to organise Jallikattu in all districts of Tamil Nadu on Republic Day in defiance of the Supreme Court ban. Its leader, former Union Health minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss says this brazen approach was waiting to happen as the people are fed up of the failure of the two principal Dravidian parties to get the ban on Jallikattu lifted. The argument given is that when Karnataka can defy the Supreme Court order on release of Cauvery water, why Tamil Nadu cannot do the same.
What the pro-Jallikattu groups want is that the Centre should amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, to include Jallikattu bulls in the category of trained animals that are used in the military, police, exhibitions, zoos or for educational and scientific purposes.
The AIADMK realises it is pushed to the wall. It tried to pass the buck to the Centre by pleading with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass an ordinance. But Modi's government had earned the wrath of the court last January when it issued a notification allowing Jallikattu. Once bitten, twice shy Modi does not want to go down the same path, particularly when there are no tangible political benefits on offer.
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| Pro-Jallikattu groups want the Centre to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. [Photo: Indiatoday.in] |
Former Chief Justice of the Madras High court, Justice Markandey Katju says the Centre can pass an ordinance even if the case is pending before court. Katju refers to the time in the 70s when the appeal in the election petition against Indira Gandhi was pending in the Supreme court and the Representation of People's Act was amended by Parliament.
However, given the sensitivities involved, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has thrown the ball into the state's court, pointing out that sports is a state subject and that Tamil Nadu can make a law allowing it with reasonable restrictions to prevent cruelty to the bulls. The state assembly is due to meet on 23 January and this gives the Panneerselvam government an opportunity to seize the initiative. Though again, there is no saying how the Supreme Court will react to this piece of legislation should any animal rights activist approach it.
It is now a test of character for the AIADMK leadership. And in the internal battle between Sasikala and Panneerselvam, this is the latter's chance to assert his position. If he brings in the legislation, his stock among the people of Tamil Nadu will go up, making it tough for Sasikala to then remove him. Till the other day, everyone thought Panneerselvam's days were numbered. By taking the bull by its horns, the civil society of Chennai may just have given this tea seller-turned-politician a lease of life.