Tiruvarur: DMK working president MK Stalin and hundreds of party cadres were arrested today when they attempted to stage a massive protest here as the day-long State-wide bandh called by DMK led opposition parties in support of drought-hit farmers evoked overwhelming response in Cauvery delta districts.
Led by Mr Stalin, hundreds of workers of DMK, Congress, CPM, CPI, VCK, IUML, besides farmers and traders, took out a rally from Therku Veedhi to the new bus stand in Tiruvarur where they staged a demonstration. Following which, police detained Mr Stalin and the protesters.
Normal life was paralyzed in Cauvery delta districts, particularly in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam as the bandh was almost total and incident-free. All the shops, business establishments and vegetable markets remained closed. Private buses, auto-rickshaws, lorries and contract carriages kept off the roads while Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses operated skeletal services with police protection. Essential services, however, remained unaffected.
P R Pandian, coordinator of All Farmers’ Associations, and a group of farmers were arrested when they blocked the Thanjavur-Karaikkal passenger train at Kulikkarai in Tiruvarur district demanding the constitution of Cauvery Management Board.
In Tiruchy, Former minister K N Nehru and DMK cadres were arrested when they resorted to road blockade at the central bus stand.
DMK, the principal opposition party, had called for the state-wide bandh today in support of the farmers’ demands which included waiver of farm loans, constitution of Cauvery Management Board, adequate monetary compensation to farmers affected by drought, cancellation of hydrocarbon project and remunerative prices for paddy, sugarcane etc.
Led by Mr Stalin, hundreds of workers of DMK, Congress, CPM, CPI, VCK, IUML, besides farmers and traders, took out a rally from Therku Veedhi to the new bus stand in Tiruvarur where they staged a demonstration. Following which, police detained Mr Stalin and the protesters.
Normal life was paralyzed in Cauvery delta districts, particularly in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam as the bandh was almost total and incident-free. All the shops, business establishments and vegetable markets remained closed. Private buses, auto-rickshaws, lorries and contract carriages kept off the roads while Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses operated skeletal services with police protection. Essential services, however, remained unaffected.
P R Pandian, coordinator of All Farmers’ Associations, and a group of farmers were arrested when they blocked the Thanjavur-Karaikkal passenger train at Kulikkarai in Tiruvarur district demanding the constitution of Cauvery Management Board.
In Tiruchy, Former minister K N Nehru and DMK cadres were arrested when they resorted to road blockade at the central bus stand.
DMK, the principal opposition party, had called for the state-wide bandh today in support of the farmers’ demands which included waiver of farm loans, constitution of Cauvery Management Board, adequate monetary compensation to farmers affected by drought, cancellation of hydrocarbon project and remunerative prices for paddy, sugarcane etc.