DMK Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy faced intense criticism after an incident during the Jallikattu event in Alanganallur, Madurai, on 16 January 2024, the day of Kanum Pongal. Moorthy asked the Madurai district collector, Sangeetha, who was overseeing the event, to vacate her seat to make room for Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s son, Inbanithi, and his friends. This action sparked controversy, with many criticizing Moorthy for his apparent disregard for protocol and the collector’s position.
The Jallikattu event, known for its cultural significance, had a designated seating arrangement for organizers, authorities, and officials overseeing the sport to ensure safety and adherence to regulations. However, political interference, especially from the ruling DMK, has marred the event in recent years. On this occasion, while the collector, Sangeetha, was seated in a prominent position, Udhayanidhi Stalin asked his son to adjust the seating to accommodate his friends. Minister Moorthy immediately intervened, requesting the collector to vacate her seat, which she did reluctantly. A video of the incident went viral, further intensifying the backlash.
This controversy comes on the heels of earlier criticisms regarding caste discrimination. The scheduled castes community had previously alleged exclusion from participating in the Palamedu Jallikattu, despite a Madras High Court ruling prohibiting caste-based discrimination. The Paraiyar Uravin Murai Sangam, in protest, raised black flags at their homes, expressing opposition to the DMK government’s handling of these matters, particularly under the oversight of Minister Moorthy.
இன்பநிதியின் நண்பர்களுக்காக கலெக்டரை நிற்கவைத்த அமைச்சர் மூர்த்தி
#madurai #Jallikattu2025 #India #Tamilnadu #pongalfestival #pongalcelebration #TamilJanam #TamilJanamTV | #அலங்காநல்லூர் #மதுரை | #Alanganallur | #Jallikattu2025 | #தமிழ்நாடு | #Udhayanidhi | #UdhayanidhiStalin |… pic.twitter.com/2iEBmXiLjN— Tamil Janam (@TamilJanamNews) January 16, 2025
Similarly, P. Rajasekhar, the state president of the Jallikattu Padhukappu Peravai (Jallikattu Protection Council), who had successfully fought and won a landmark case in the Supreme Court for Jallikattu, was spotted standing without a chair at the event while DMK Ministers Moorthy, PTR Palanivel Thigarajan, DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin, his son Inbanidhi along with his friends were watching the bull-taming spectacle. Meanwhile, individuals with no significant connection to the event were given special seating. This contrast highlighted the unfair treatment and left many disillusioned.
ஜல்லிக்கட்டு வரலாற்றில் உச்சநீதி மன்றம் சென்று போராடி வழக்காடி வெற்றி தீர்ப்பு பெற்ற ஜல்லிகட்டு பேரவை மாநில தலைவர் பி .ராஜசேகர் அய்யா அவர்களை அலங்காநல்லூர் ஜல்லிக்கட்டு மைதான அரங்கத்தில், வயதில் மூத்தவரான அவரை நிற்க வைத்து கலைஞரின் வாரிசு என்ற ஒரே தகுதியின் அடிப்படையில்… pic.twitter.com/6jbcjVXisE
— K.S.Radhakrishnan (@KSRadhakrish) January 16, 2025
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