NNWN / Chennai, Mumbai, 2017-01-16

The controversy surrounding bull taming sport Jallikattu continues. Now a war of words has started between DMK working President MK Stalin and animal rights organisation over the issue, with the leader dubbing the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA) as "anti-national" and the group calling the criticism "cheap and ineffective." Supporters of pro-Jalikattu have criticised the animal rights NGOs because they say that the sport has been associated with the Pongal harvest festivities.

Stalin said that such "international NGOs did not realise the diversity of India and aspects of its heritage," and charged them with working with "ulterior motives." He however demanded immediate ban of the international NGO PETA which, he alleged, is against indian culture and is anti-national.  He also favoured replacing Animal Welfare Board of India with a different body with more Tamil representation in it.  Reacting to Stalin's charge, Manilal Valliyate, Director of Vterinary Affairs, PETA India said,"To target an animal protection NGO which is not a law- making body, but rather a law-abiding body, is cheap and ineffective as it can have no bearing whatsoever on the central government laws that prohibit cruelty to bulls." "To stand for kindness is patriotic, to stand for cruelty is un-Indian. PETA India serves animals in respect of our country's Constitutional mandate, its laws and its Supreme Court," Valliyate said in a statement.

Stalin demanded that the Centre should not allow PETA to function anymore and urged the Union Government to come out with court-approved mechanism for the conduct of the bull- taming sport in future.