Farmers and cadres of political parties forced a bandh and staged rail and road rokos in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts on Thursday to condemn Karnataka’s move to build reservoirs at Mekedatu and to call upon the Centre to expeditiously form the Cauvery Management Board and the monitoring committee.
TMembers of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamil Maanila Congress, Congress and Social Democratic Party of India were arrested after they attempted to indulge in rail roko agitation at Tiruchi railway junction.
The protestors assembled at Khadi Kraft round about from where they planned to proceed towards the junction when they were arrested. A heavy posse of police was deployed in front of the railway junction in connection with the agitatio
The protesters wanted the State government to convene an all-party meet to discuss the issue and meet Prime Minister Narenda Modi to impress upon him the need to prevent construction of dams.
Over 13,000 people were taken into custody in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts during the protest.
While the Tamil Nadu Vivasyigal Sangam and the Tamilaga Vivasyigal Sangam affiliated to the Left parties had called for delta bandh, parties spanning the political spectrum, including the DMK, MDMK, DMDK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Congress, Tamil Maanila Congress, Aam Admi Party, People's Art and Literary Association and other farmers’ organisations had extended support to the agitation.
At the “rail roko” agitation in Thanjavur junction, protesters led by DMK leaders L. Ganesan, S.S. Palanimanikkam, and S.N.M. Ubhayadullah, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam district secretary P. Balasundaram, Tamilaga Vivasyigal Sangam State general secretary Shanmugam, and Thanjavur Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association secretary Swamimalai Vimalnathan and blocked the Tiruchi-Chennai Egmore Cholan Express for some time following which they were arrested. About 310 persons were picked up at the junction.
The Cholan Express was detained at Kumbakonam Junction too when protesters led by the former Minister Ko. Si. Mani staged a protest. Protestors were picked up for attempting to stop trains at six places in the districts. Road rokos rocked Kumbakonam, Tiruvaiyaru, Budalur, Pattukkottai, Adirampattinam, Peravurani, Sethubhavachatram, Madukkur, Thiruvonam, and Ammapettai regions of Thanjavur district.
In Tiruvarur district, protesters prevented the departure of the Mannargudi-Mayiladuthurai and Mannargudi-Manamadurai Passenger services at the Mannargudi station in the morning. Protesters detained the Ernakulam-Karaikal Express at Needamangalam station.
Traders expressed their solidarity with farmers by downing shutters at various places including Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam, Sembarnarkoil, Porayar, and Velankanni in Nagapattinam district.
Road rokos were staged at Sirkazhi, Kollidam, and Velankanni, among other places.
At Nagapattinam railway station, members of various political parties led by DMK former MP A.K.S Vijayan blocked the Karaikal–Velankanni passenger train. The agitation led to the detention of the passenger train for sometime, and the protestors were later arrested.
Workers of various political parties took out a procession in Mayiladuthurai town and attempted to block the Mayiladuthurai–Tirunelveli passenger at the station. However, police personnel stopped them at the station entrance and arrested them.
Workers of the Communist Party of India staged a demonstration at Tiruvarangulam near here. The proposed dams at Mekedatu in Karnataka would not only hinder irrigation but also drinking water supply schemes, they said.
T. Sengodan, district secretary of the party, led the agitation.
