Responding to AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa accusing his party of "betrayal" on the issue, Karunanidhi in a statement said the DMK had not only monitored the proper conduct of the sport in the past, but had even enacted a law in 2009 for regulating 'jallikattu'. 

Recalling the Supreme Court banning jallikattu in May 2014, Karunanidhi charged his arch-rival Jayalalithaa with not taking adequate steps to ensure the conduct of the sport, organised during the annual Pongal festivities in January in southern districts, especially Madurai.