Soundarya Rajinikanth’s recent appointment as the brand ambassador and member of Animal Welfare Board of India has not gone down well with several pro-Jallikattu groups. Veera Vilayattu Meetpu Kazhagam, a pro-Jallikattu group, staged a protest in Trichy yesterday and burned the portraits of Soundariya, urging her to step down. It must be noted that AWBI played a pivotal role for the Supreme Court ban on Jallikattu.
Soundarya’s official spokesperson later released a statement clarifying her role in AWBI. “Soundarya Rajinikanth,who is well versed in animation and computer graphics is honoured as the brand ambassador of animal welfare board of India and also as a part of performing animals sub committee. She is receiving praises for this credit & her job is to monitor and survey the use of animals in the films. She will ensure the safety of animals used in the films. She will also monitor the use of graphics in the film and will say whether the makers have used graphics or shot with real life animals. This is completely apt for her as she has in-depth knowledge in animation and she has also directed “Kochadaiyaan” which is an animation film,” reads the statement.