Deputy CM comes with his son to jallikattu

Controversy surrounds seating arrangements at Alanganallur jallikattu event, with criticism from foreign tourists and villagers.

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, during the flagging off event of the Alanganallur jallikattu, had brought his son Inbanidhi who sat on the front row along with senior ministers. This invited criticism as it was observed that Madurai Collector and other officials were not given proper seat allocation.

Foreign tourists not given adequate space at gallery

As part of the Tourism Department’s programme of receiving foreign tourists and providing them an exposure of art and culture of Tamil Nadu, they were taken on a tour to villages and jallikattu events. During such a tour at Alanganallur, many foreign tourists, felt the seating arrangements were improper for them. They felt uncomfortable witnessing the sport after being sidelined in the space earmarked for them.

Villagers sore that they could not enjoy their own festival

Due to insufficient space to witness the jallikattu event, makeshift galleries were set up on either side of the arena. But, due to strict regulations and improper guidance, many of the galleries remained empty. At the same time, many people, both villagers and outsiders, who could not enter the jallikattu arena due to police restrictions, watched the event on LED screens set up on roads and buildings. The villagers said that despite being locals they were prevented to enter the arena and enjoy their own festival.

Winners show their gold coin presented in the name of CM

Gold coins as prizes to both the bull owners and bull tamers were given in the name of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his son and Deputy CM Udayanidhi by the organisers at Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniapuram. While a majority of the winners happily waved at the crowd after receiving the yellow coin, some among them were apprehensive about the sovereign gold and were seen taking pictures from their phones and sending it to their friends in bullion market to have it appraised.