A protester wears a jallikattu bull mask at Marina. (Photo: AFP)

Chennai: Animal activists in the state are upset with the state administration and political parties for not supporting their cause and feel unsafe due to the growing outrage against welfare organisations. “It is unfortunate that now a section of people call us anti-Tamils. We have been practising peace and animal welfare for past so many decades,” said S. Chinny Krishna, vice chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India.

“The worst part is that in a democratic country those who had lent their voice in support of voiceless animals are now threatened with dire consequences. I am also sad for whatever was trolled against actor Trisha," he said. "Several volunteers particularly women who have been involved in rescue of cattle and dogs are now being ill-treated and inflammatory comments are posted against them in social media. Is this our culture?" asks Arun Prasanna, founder, People for Cattle in India.

Vested interests are now targeting animal activists without understanding the science and facts. “Our volunteers in the past few years have saved more than 1,600 cattle including cows but today we are portrayed as money launderers,” he rued. “Animal activism is beyond Peta and bulls. We are practicising what Mahatma Gandhiji preached - The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals - but today due to misrepresentation of facts, anger against jallikattu ban is directed against animal lovers,” he said. There are threatening phone calls to us by our own brethren who are supposed to protect us from cattle mafia, he rued.