A short-term confusion gave way to widespread jubilation in Tamil Nadu as Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announced that the Ordinance to reinstate Jallikattu had been passed.
Also read: Jallikattu protests: Kannadigas join Tamilians in support of 2000-year-old traditional sport
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which rules Tamil Nadu and of which Panneeerselvam is a part, went on to say that would Panneerselvam would inaugurate Jallikattu at Alanganallur in Madurai at 10 am on Sunday. It added that other ministers in the state Cabinet would "inaugurate Jallikattu in their respective districts tomorrow."
Confusion, then clarity
This comes after the party created confusion on Saturday afternoon by tweeting out that Governor C Vidyasagar Rao had promulgated an emergency ordinance to reinstate Jallikattu, effectively giving his concurrence for the bull-taming sport to be held in Madurai on Sunday. However, the AIADMK later deleted the tweet, leading to mass confusion.
Saturday's development came close on the heels of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre giving its nod to the ordinance to reinstate Jallikattu, after the Supreme Court banned it in 2014, observing that it was "inherently cruel" to the bulls.
After tweeting of TN Guv giving his concurrence for emergency ordinance to hold Jallikattu, AIADMK's official twitter handle deletes tweet pic.twitter.com/WACiERZ1vO
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 21, 2017
The tweet was posted again, much later.
Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao approves Jallikattu ordinance - Honourable CM Thiru.O.Panneerselvam.
— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) January 21, 2017
Jallikattu on Sunday
The AIADMK, through its official Twitter handle, said that while Jallikattu would be held on Sunday, a more permanent solution was coming. It tweeted: "The Bill to replace today's Ordinance will be tabled in the State Assembly on January 23 when the first Assembly session begins."
It also said that Panneerselvam "appeals to students, women and the public to take part in Jallikattu events" of Sunday "in large numbers." It quoted the chief minister as saying: "The vadivasal [enclosed space; in this case the bullpen] will be opened and the bulls which have been locked up will come, so that the jallikattu warriors can embrace them [sic]."
