London, Jan 24(PTI): An Ireland-based animal rights group has threatened to launch a campaign to protest against 'jallikattu', a bull-abusing contact game popular in Tamil Nadu and alert potential tourists to India about the Incredible Cruelty. In a letter addressed to Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai, John Carmody, founder of Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) said: We were aghast to learn that despite the Indian government's ban on the use of bulls as performing animals, the Madras High Court Bench gave permission for the cruel bull-abusing contact game jallikattu to be held in Tamil Nadu. Calling it a beautiful nation, Carmody said India's reputation for treating animals with the utmost compassion and care is a major draw for almost everyone who is considering visiting the region. How can that image endure when a state government endorses an activity in which terrified bulls are surrounded by hundreds of shouting men, are hit with fists, have their tails twisted and pulled - and some even snapped and broken - and are jumped on and wrested to the ground? It is even reported that bulls are still being forced to drink liquor before these matches. It beggars belief that this blatant cruelty to animals is taking place in India, the letter said. Until India puts an end to jallikattu and holds true to its reputation as a nation that treats its animals with compassion, we have no choice but to run a campaign to alert potential tourists to India about the 'Incredible Cruelty' to bulls taking place in your country and urge them to boycott Indian tourism until this cruel game is put to an end Carmody said.
