PMK chief S Ramadoss hits out at Maneka Gandhi's comments on Jallikattu

CHENNAI: Criticising Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's comments that bull taming sport Jallikattu is a "western concept", NDA's state ally PMK today asked her to study the sport's history and Tamil culture before issuing such statements.

"Her comments that during Jallikattu festival the bulls and cows which are useful to farmers get killed, conveys her lack of knowledge about the festival. One of the reasons for conducting Jallikattu is also to showcase the power of these bulls," PMK Chief S Ramadoss said in a statement.

"Maneka Gandhi should stop making such statements," he said.

He also sought to know whether BJP accepts Gandhi's comments.

Gandhi, during a visit to her Pilibhit constitutency in Uttar Pradesh, had said that Jallikattu tradition is a western culture and the BJP is against it.

"The Supreme Court's decision to ban it is a welcome step," she had said.

The Minister's comments were made in the backdrop of protests by various outfits in Tamil Nadu against the ban on the sport.