Chennai: In an early morning crackdown, the Tamil Nadu Police started removing scores of protesters who were demonstrating at the Marina beach for the past one week, demanding a permanent solution for holding Jallikattu. Following an advisory, the crackdown comes on a day when the state Assembly is expected to discuss the matter after the customary Governor’s address.

Observing that a “mass movement” and “spontaneous outpouring of emotion” paved the way for the lifting of the ban on Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao says a bill to replace the ordinance would be “placed” by the state government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly “immediately.” In his maiden address to the Tamil Nadu Assembly in its first session this calendar year, Rao said, “This mass movement has paved the way for lifting the ban on Jallikattu.”

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy welcomes the police crackdown, asserting that the protests were pointless now as all the demands were to be conceded. “I welcome it. This was to be done. After all, their demand was to be conceded and Jallikattu is going to be legitimised by an act that is to be passed today by the Tamil Nadu Assembly and so what is the point in protesting?,” Swamy tells ANI.