Cadres of the Communist Party of India-Marxist and Communist Party of India were arrested in the city and elsewhere in the district after they attempted to indulge in picketing agitation on Monday condemning the Centre and State government for failing to check the rising prices of essential commodities and demanding steps to check price rise.
The members of the two Left parties also demanded the government to provide all essential commodities to the public through the fair price shops and urged the Centre to increase the allotment of essential commodities to the ration shops.
They also demanded the Centre to give up its efforts to privatise the profit-making public sector undertakings. A large number of CPI(M) and CPI cadres assembled near the Chathram bus stand in the city from where they planned to take out a procession up to Teppakulam to indulge in picketing agitation.
However, the Left parties cadres were stopped mid way in the procession route following which they squatted on the road and raised slogans. Subsequently, they were all arrested. The stir was led by the CPI(M) MLA C. Govindasamy and CPI State assistant secretary and former MLA G. Palanisamy. The CPI State council member M. Selvaraj CPI city secretary K. Suresh and CPI(M) city secretary K. Annadurai also took part in the agitation. All those arrested were later released in the evening.
Police sources said the Left parties members were also arrested in Musiri, Thathiengarpet, Thottiyam, Manapparai, Lalgudi, Thuraiyur, Jeeyapuram, Ramji Nagar, Tiruverambur, Kallakudi and Vaiyampatti when they attempted to indulge in the picketing agitation.
