Chennai:
Tamil star Suriya has issued a legal notice to animal rights advocacy group PETA for its claim that the actor was supporting Jallikattu to promote his upcoming movie "Si3", saying this has caused "mental stress" to him and asked the NGO to apologise or face legal proceedings.
In a notice dated January 20, 2017, the actor's advocate RVijay Anand said that Suriya had reiterated his commitment and support for the bull taming sport on several occasions in thepast and there was no need for him to indulge in "cheap publicity."
The notice was issued to PETA India, its India CEO Poorva Joshipura and two other office-bearers.
The "mischievous and slanderous comments" has loweredmy client's reputation, Anand said in the notice, allegingthat they were made with "malafide intention knowing fully well that it is untrue." It has also caused "mental agony and stress" to him andhis family members and his fans, he said. "My client voiced his opinion on an issue which isidentified with Tamil culture, pride and tradition for almost300 years and as a Tamilian he is fully entitled to do so," Anand said.
He urged PETA India, Joshipura and the two others toissue an "unconditional apology" in writing to Suriya withinseven days of receipt of the notice and release the same tomedia, "failing which, my client shall be constrained toinitiate appropriate legal proceedings against you," hewarned. Suriya had earlier lambasted PETA India for itsopposition to Jallikattu, saying it was "paradoxical to seethose aiding extinction of native breeds talk about cruelty toanimals in the bull-taming sport".
