Bull fight still on at Marina

The protests against the jallikattu ban have thrown all the calculations of the government and law enforcement agencies to the wind and is growing from strength to strength.

Vendors’ associations, truck owners’ associations, and private omni bus operators are joining the protest on Friday and will halt their operations. Cinema halls will not screen movies on Friday to express solidarity with the protesters. 

On January 19, the third day of the protests, thousands of youth defied the scorching sun and continued to flow into the Marina, dancing, mimicking, miming and shouting out their frustration against those who were instrumental in banning the sport. Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were seen everywhere with some even conducting a mock funeral procession. 

Caricatures of politicians, banners ridiculing parties, and street plays that conveyed the importance of protecting one’s identity and above all show of solidarity kept the Marina like a carnival arena and with police only trying to ease the traffic on Kamarajar Salai. 

When the protests began on Thursday morning, the protesters were keenly looking forward to the Chief Minister’s meeting with the Prime Minister. But when OPS failed to bring any solace, the sloganeering against the government hit the peak. With no solution in sight, protesters will continue to sit on the sands of Marina. No violence was reported at any of the protesting sites and the protesters have so far kept the politicians at bay.