Act NOW: Letters needed to end Jallikattu

Action alert by The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO)

Jallikattu is an annual ritual that takes place in Tamil Nadu during Pongal. Every year, the most aggressive male calves are picked up to become Jallikattu bulls, who are harassed, beaten, prodded, and tormented thereby driving them frenzy during the Jallikatu event. As a result of our collective action, the court turned down the request of the State government’s plea to pass a common order permitting Jallikattu! Organisers of individual events would now have to obtain permission separately. MOEF now needs to file its response defending the notificaton. Please write to the MOEF asking them to take immediate action. More details, address and sample text here.

The MOEF notification of July 2011 identified bulls as “performing animals”. Unfortunately, this notification was not upheld, permitting Jallikattu this year.  The hearing for this case was 30th January, 2011.

Thanks to your immediate action – as members, supporters and friends of FIAPO – letters were sent from organisatons and activists to the minister, and joint press releases for media awareness were sent out (see http://www.indianexpress.com/news/implement-ban-on-jallikattu/905113/)

Unfortunately, it is not all good news. The MoEF is yet to file its response defending its own notification. The court has now been adjourned to 23rd February, for the hearing on a batch of writ petitions filed both in favour as well as against the MOEF notification.

Please urge the MOEF to defend its progressive notification before the Court. Please contact the Joint Secretary and ask him to ensure the response is filed. Consider faxing/posting your letter along with emailing for greater impact! 

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H. K. Pandey
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests
Paryavaran Bhawan,CGO Complex,lodhi Road,New Delhi,110003

Email: hempande@nic.in 
Phone: 011 24362551
Fax: 011 24360894

Jallikattu is an annual ritual that takes place in Tamil Nadu during Pongal. Every year, the most aggressive male calves are picked up to become Jallikattu bulls, who are harassed, beaten, prodded, and tormented thereby driving them frenzy during the Jallikatu event.

The MOEF notification of July 2011 identified bulls as “performing animals”. Unfortunately, this notification was not upheld, permitting Jallikattu this year.

Every year hundreds of people get injured in this “deadly sport”. On the very first day of the event this year in Tamil Nadu, 3 participants are reported to have died and 33 others are severely injured.

I urge you to please defend this progressive notification for inclusion of bulls as performing animals before the court, and file a response immediately.

Photo: PETA INDIA - Even though the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) made jallikattu illegal by banning the use of bulls as performing animals, the Madras High Court Bench gave permission for jallikattu to be held in Tamil Nadu

Ask MoEF to Enforce Jallikattu Ban

Per the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ notification in The Gazette of India, bulls can no longer be used as performing animals. This means an end to the cruel “sport” of jallikattu, in which terrified bulls are kicked, punched, jumped on, dragged to the ground and otherwise tormented. Despite this notification, however, the Tamil Nadu government has shockingly permitted jallikattu events to continue to be held in Madurai.

Recent PETA investigations at five jallikattu events documented that bulls were tied so tightly it caused them severe discomfort and pain, were hit with fists, had their tails twisted and pulled, were jumped on and were wrestled to the ground. Not only is jallikattu cruel to animals, it also poses a threat to public safety. In one four-day period in January 2011, 215 people sustained injuries during jallikattu events. Of these, 154 were spectators. Two people died.

We would like to thank the Ministry for implementing the ban. Now, it is time for the Ministry to make sure that the ban is enforced immediately.

You Can Help
Please help by writing to the Ministry to Environment and Forests. Thank officials for banning the use of bulls as performing animals and ask them to enforce the ban.

Petition:

http://action.petaindia.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=111&ea.campaign.id=13194

Tamil Nadu’s traditional Jallikattu or taming the bull festivities are still drawing the crowds, but animal rights activists claim cruelty continues despite the court’s warning.

national Indian TV news coverage of Aran campaign

 

India is such a beautiful country and so are the people, so let’s take the suffering of the cows out of Jallikattu and enforce the ban !