Thursday 13 / March / 2025
Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Working President MK Stalin on Monday criticised the police action on protesters at Marina beach demanding lifting of the ban on Jallikattu and a permanent solution for holding it.
"It is condemnable that instead of holding talks with peaceful protesters, it has been attempted to end protests using police with an authoritarian mindset," Stalin, opposition leader in the state assembly, said in a statement. He also dubbed the action as "anti-democratic.
"Police, in an early morning crackdown, started removing scores of protesters who were demonstrating at the Marina beach. The action comes on a day when the state Assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary Governor's address. The protesters, mostly students and youth, had dubbed the ordinance, promulgated on Saturday, as a temporary measure and sought a 'permanent solution' for conduct of Jallikattu.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court on Monday declined to hear a matter raised in open court about police action on pro-Jallikattu protesters at Marina beach, epicentre of the stir for the past one week.
A special mention was made before the first bench comprising Chief Justice S. K. Kaul and Justice M. Sundar about the police crackdown on protesters by advocates Sudha Ramalingam and George Williams. The advocates sought judicial intervention in the matter.
Chief Justice Kaul declined to hear the matter saying, "How can the court interfere in administrative matters."
