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After Nod From Environment And Law Ministries, Home Ministry Clears Ordinance On Jallikattu

This is the fourth day of protests in Chennai.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

9:30 pm: Centre clears ordinance on Jallikattu

Decks were cleared tonight for an ordinance on Jallikattu after Tamil Nadu and the Centre worked feverishly even as the state stood on the edge and protesters on Marina beach and elsewhere refused to relent until the sport is held.

They said they welcome the efforts to promulgate an ordinance for allowing the sport but they would not withdraw the agitation until the event is held.

A draft ordinance prepared by the Tamil Nadu government was vetted by the Home Ministry. It was late in the night approved by the Ministries of Law and Environment for President's assent.

9:15 pm: Jallikattu protest a lession for Hindutva forces, says Asaduddin Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi today said the protests over jallikattu were a "lesson" for the Hindutva forces.

Referring to the ongoing protests in Tamil Nadu against the ban on the bull-taming sport as a case in point, he said the Uniform Civil Code also could not be "imposed" in a diverse country like India.

8:06 Jallikattu ordinance gets nod from Environment, Law ministries

7:24 pm: Sahitya Akademi winner returns award over Jallikattu row

A writer and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi's Yuva Puraskar today returned his award, protesting against the lack of "positive" action from the Centre on the Jallikattu issue.

Lakshmi Saravanakumar, who won the Yuva Puraskar award last year for his novel on tiger hunting, 'Kaanakan,' returned it at the Sahitya Akademi office here.

"Yes. I have returned the award. I told Sahitya Akademi that my protest was not against them but the Centre," he told PTI.

Yesterday, in a Facebook page, the author had said Tamil society had been 'betrayed' for long by Centre on many issues and that the ongoing pro-jallikattu protest was a reflection of the "oppression" faced by it for many years.

He had also said that if there was no 'positive action' on part of the government by last night on jallikattu, he would return the award today.

5:50 pm: After traders, IT employees, bankers want ban on Jallikattu lifted

With traders downing shutters following a bandh call against jallikattu ban, employees of information technology, banks and other commercial establishments today staged a protest here expressing their solidarity to the cause.

Banking operations took a hit with some employees taking part in protests called by Bank Employees Federation of India, Tamil Nadu unit and All India Bank Employees Association.

Employees of various IT companies expressed solidarity by holding placards and banners with slogans against People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

While some employees went to the Marina beach extending their support to the ongoing agitation, some others wore black clothes and staged a protest in front of their respective offices, across the city.

"We want to express our solidarity to the sport. It is our tradition and we do not want it to be banned. Since, we could not participate in the protests being held at Marina, we are conducting it here," one Vanitha Subramanian said.

5:02 pm: Telugu star Mahesh Babu backs Jallikattu protesters

Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu today came out strongly in support of jallikattu amid groundswell in Tamil Nadu for the conduct of the bull-taming sport.

Describing jallikattu as the "spirit of Tamil Nadu", Mahesh Babu took to twitter and hoped the voices of the protesters are heard.

"Jallikattu is the spirit of Tamil Nadu -- bold and fearless," said the actor, son of veteran film personality Krishna.

"Proud to see such a statement of unity among Tamilians for something that they truly believe in. Especially admire the way, the students of Tamil Nadu have been standing up for the cause, relentlessly fighting for their roots and culture.

Hope their voices are heard. I support the spirit of Tamil Nadu," Mahesh Babu, who grew up and studied in Chennai, said in a series of tweets.

4:03 pm: Now, people in Gujarat and Mumai are coming out in support of Jallikattu

Protests in Vadodara:

As many as 500 Jallikattu supporters gathered in Chembur to form a human chain in support of the bull taming sport.

A protestor told ANI, "About 500 people are here already and more are expected. We want Jallikattu. this is a 4,000-year-old game, linked with Tamil heritage and culture, the bull is part of their homes, and not some wild animal."

"Throughout the year, we tend to them, worship them on the day after Pongal and play with them later", he added.

3:50 pm: Protesters to stay put till Jallikattu is held

Demonstrators on Friday said they will continue their protests across Tamil Nadu till Jallikattu, the ancient bull taming sport, is held in the state, IANS reported.

They are not satisfied with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's assurance that Jallikattu would be held in couple of days.

The protesting students at Chennai's Marina Beach and also at Madurai categorically declared that they would call off their protest only after it takes place.

The protestors refused to heed to the request of senior police officials here to disperse after they read out Panneerselvam's statement.

Panneerselvam on Friday said the state government would promulgate an ordinance to conduct Jallikattu and urged the demonstrators to withdraw their protests.

3:30 pm: Jallikattu will happen in a day or two, says CM Panneerselvam

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister earlier in the day had assured the people of his state that Jallikattu would be allowed in a day or two.

He told the media, as he was meeting experts in New Delhi:

He also urged protesters to withdraw their protests:

3:11 pm: AR Rahman, Rajinikanth join protests

While students and other protesters have stayed put at Chennai's Marina Beach demanding the ban against Jallikattu be lifted, now prominent Tamilians such as superstars Rajinikanth and AR Rahman have joined the protest at the beach. Tamil actor Surya was also present.

Rahman had said on Thursday that he would fast for the cause of Tamil culture.

Here are some photos that ANI tweeted from the venue of the protest:

3:02 pm: Solution soon, says Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said that there a solution will be found soon about the row over Jallikattu.

"Pon Radhakrishnan is in touch with the government. I think we will collectively find a solution for it," he said.

2:30 pm: Madras HC dismisses PIL seeking enactment of special law

The Madras High Court dismissed a PIL seeking enactment of a special law with conditions by the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government for holding jallikattu, saying it cannot issue such a direction.

"The court cannot issue such a direction," the bench, comprising chief justice SK Kaul and Justice M Sundar said, while hearing a petition by KK Ramesh, managing trustee of Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation.

On a plea by advocate R Krishnamurthy for action against "illegal" gathering of a large number of people on the Marina beach in support of jallikattu, the bench said it is an administrative matter. "It is a matter of administration, approach the government," it said.

12:00 pm: SC delays verdict on jallikattu

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed not to pass judgement for a week on the Jallikattu issue, while taking into account the Centre's submission that they were in talks with Tamil Nadu to find a way out in the matter.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R Banumati that people of Tamil Nadu are "passionate" about Jallikattu and the Central government and the state are trying to resolve the issue.

"The Centre and the state are in talks to find a way out in the matter and our request is that the court should not deliver the judgement for at least a week," Rohatgi told the bench.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.