Business and trade activities were crippled and the normal life of residents partially affected due to disruption of transport services in several parts of the City during the State-wide bandh called by Opposition parties on Tuesday.
The bandh was organised urging the Centre and State to meet the demands of agitating farmers which included waiver of farm loans and constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.
The ruling AIADMK (Amma), BJP, MDMK and DMDK had not extended their support to the bandh.
Since traders’ federations and transport employees’ unions owing allegiance to the DMK, Congress, Left parties and the VCK declared their support most of the shops including restaurants, tea shops, petty shops, grocery shops and other commercial establishments remained closed until Tuesday evening. While rail and bus services were not disrupted, over 50% of autorickshaws kept off the road.
Several arterial roads wore a deserted look as there were only a few vehicles plying on the road. The Transport Department had made arrangements to ensure normal bus services. Most of the buses from Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus in Koyambedu were operated without any interruption.
The city police had made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident and to ensure that normal life was not affected.
Besides regular patrolling, the police personnel were deployed in large numbers at bus depots, termini and railway stations.
Theatres cancelled noon and matinee shows and there was no film shooting since Nadigar Sangam and the Film Producers’ Council participated in the bandh.
Tamil Traders’ Federation president T.Vellaiyan said most of the shops were closed in support of farmers and over five lakh traders participated in the bandh.
In Saidapet, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol.Thirumavalavan, CPI(M) secretary G.Ramakrishnan, CPI secretary Mutharasan, Congress leader K.V. Thangkabalu and others blocked the road and courted arrest after staging a protest demanding the attention of governments.
Warning issued
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Su.Thirunavukarasar, Dravidar Khazham president K.Veeramani, farmers’ leader Ayyakannu and other farmers conducted agitation in Egmore and took out a procession on the Egmore High Road. Mr. Ayyakannu said, “If the Union government does not meet our demands, we will not hesitate to resume our agitation again.” Most of them courted arrest and were detained until evening.
Police source said over 8,300 activists, including political party leaders, were arrested in 68 places across the City after they conducted demonstrations and road blockades.
A few political party cadre threw stones at a sweet stall which was open in Mandaveli. In Tiruvallur district, stones were thrown at buses in three places.
The bandh in Kancheepuram passed off peacefully. Around 1,200 cadre from different opposition political parties courted arrest. The State Transport Corporation operated its bus services with police escort during the day. The private buses plied as usual. On the other hand, only a very few autorickshaws, share autos and vans were seen moving around in town areas.
The shops and other business establishments in several towns and rural areas remained closed.
Road, rail blockades
Party cadre staged road roko demonstrations at 17 different places well before mercury level increased in the day.
A group of cadre led by the Uthiramerur MLA, K. Sundar staged a rail roko at Melmaruvathur railway station in the morning. All the demonstrators were arrested and lodged in kalyana mandapams till the evening.
In the State government offices, full attendance was not recorded since the government employees’ association had given a call for an indefinite strike.
