Jallikattu Politics

Jallikattu Politics

Has PM Modi over-played his cards in resolving the Jallikattu issue ? In fact, is that issue resolved through the TN ordinance route ? The centre had told the TN government that the matter was sub judice and so they could not issue the ordinance.However, they assisted the TN government through the route suggested by the Attorney General and helped them notify an ordinance on their own. It will be a symbolic gesture which can and will be  challenged by the original petitioners. 

It has been established that the present ugly format of Jallikattu is the product of competitiveness and greed which have dsdtorted the original form and purpose of the sport.  There is visible cruelty to the bulls  and is this being condoned or will the  ordinance provide  protective measures for the poor animals ?

It is my strong view that the Central government has opened the highway of challenges to Supreme Court judgements by a show of force and a kind of blackmail. The present collusion by the Central government in circumventing the Supreme Court could be interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as an attempt by BJP to gain a toehold in Tamilnad currently facing a volatile poltical scene. Could this not dent the PM’s effort to cleanse Indian politics and his own image as a potential crusader ?

Jallikettu vs the Nation

Never before have we seen such a vulgar and unpardonable effort to defy law as the recent Jallikattu demonstrations. Neither has one sen such unseemly haste on the part of the Central and State governments to prop up the demonstrations by devising an ordinance to legalise the violation of the Supreme Court ruling.

The whole affair encompasses a number of disparate but equally opportunistic and narrow political interests. The sudden explosion of anxiety for jallikettu after two years without it and just a week or so before this year’s Pongal festival was nothing but a strategic reappearance of the rivalry between DMK and AIADMK. I doubt if this would have happened if Amma had been alive.

The Central government’s eruption of sympathy for a distorted manifestation of tamil culture was a shameful attempt at getting a toehold in a scene of volatile politics.This open support for defiance of the Supreme Court will have its backlash on the  Centre with dormant interest in regional cultures  suddenly finding voice in the States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal etc. PM Modi faces the threat of a dent in his stature as a national leader who has claimed to provide national leadership.

Ordinances and bills will be passed by the States, there will be legitimate challenges to their validity. The PCA Act will be amended to legitimise a cruel practice which was never a part  of the original format of jallikettu.Where would  that leave the Centre which would have to reconcile questionable  regional interests with the need to uphold the law of the land ? The Prime Minister’s statesmanship will face its worst threat yet.    

Jawans' Complaints

Recent reports of an army jawan going public on harassment has become a debating point in media with spokesmen of political parties not letting go of an opportunity to embarrass the government. This is a most undesirable development and outside interference in matters of military discipline must stop.

There is a system in the defence forces in which complaints can be made and are dealt with  at different levels. The present complaint will also  be handled in the same manner consistent with the framework of military discipline.Of course , there are strict restraints on speech and action in the defence forces but these are no more than are required to make the forces what they are and what they need to be to rate as high as they do in world ranking.

It is essential that the media, print and electronic, look elsewhere for exciting headlines. As for politicians they should scrupulously avoid meddling in military procedures. The Army Chief ir right in saying action will be taken against personnel going public with their grievances.