Villagers seek right to conduct jallikattu at Avaniyapuram

Madurai: The Village General Committee of Avaniyapuram held a demonstration on Thursday demanding exclusive rights to conduct jallikattu in Avaniyapuram on January 15. The committee is contesting with the Thenkaal Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam and other groups to conduct the Avaniyapuram Jallikattu. The Madurai district administration, including District Collector Dr. S. Aneesh Sekhar and Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy, held peace talks, but no consensus was reached. Therefore, the Village General Committee resorted to holding a demonstration at Manthai Thidal, Avaniyapuram."Jallikattu is a traditional sport and celebration in Tamil culture, which should be conducted by the villagers. In 2017-2022, a petition was filed in the Madras High Court seeking to ensure community representation for all and uphold equality. Following the court order, a committee of 16 members under a retired judge was formed to conduct the event and this was followed until 2020," said Anbarasan, an advocate who took part in the demonstration. He said that Thenkaal Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam, led by A K Kannan, moved the Madurai District Court over the matter. "However, having an individual body or person conducting the Jallikattu event cannot be encouraged," he said. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of the Differently Abled and Caregivers demanded to the Madurai district collector to make separate arrangements for people with disabilities to witness Jallikattu events.