A State-wide bandh has been called by various political parties in support of farmers’ agitation to highlight the problems of farmers, who were fighting in Delhi for the waiver of farm loans and constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.
An all-party meeting organised by the DMK last Sunday gave a call for this bandh, saying the protest is to press the Centre and the State government to act on the demands of the farmers.
Here are updates from across the State:
12: noon: Taluk offices closed in Ramanathapuram
Not only shops, but even taluk offices wore a deserted look as Ramanathapuram followed the rest of the State in the bandh called today.
11: 00 a.m.: Parties lead protest in Coimbatore
DMK, Congress and Left party members were seen protesting on Cross Cut Road, North Coimbatore. Most vehicles stayed off road in Coimbatore.
Around 300 protesters held in Coimbatore so far.
Only 20% percent auto rickshaws plying, say sources. Government buses were on the road as usual. Even street hawkers lent support to the general strike in Coimbatore.
10: 40 a.m.: Tirunelveli
More than 80% of shops in Tirunelveli district remain closed today as part of the bandh. More than 70% of the lorries are off the road, but buses are plying as usual.
Palayamkottai MLA T. P. M. Mohideen Khan was arrested as he, along with the DMK cadres, staged a road roko near Palayamkottai bus stand. Former Speaker R. Avudaiyappan and former Radhapuram MLA M. Appavu were arrested along with 150 DMK cadres as they attempted to block vehicular traffic at Valliyoor.
10: 30 a.m.: Shops open in Madurai
Many shops including bakeries, grocery stores and stationery shops remain open in Anna Nagar junction in Madurai, our correspondent Mohammed Imranullah S reports. Only pharmacies and a handful of tea shops are open in K.K. Nagar and most other parts of Madurai city.
9: 50 a.m.: Mixed response in Salem, Namakkal
Our correspondent V.S. Palaniappan gives us the latest update on the situation in Salem
A majority of the shops have downed shutters in Salem city and other parts of the district. TNSTC, private buses and autos are plying as. The Uzhavar Santhais are functioning as usual, but there were not many consumers to procure vegetables.
In Namakkal district, a majority of the shops are not functioning in Namakkal, Tiruchengode, Komarapalayam, Rasipuram, Paramathivelur towns.
The regular activities in about 1000 poultry units in Namakkal district were hit due to the bandh.
9: 30 a.m.: Protests in Tiruchi, cadre arrested
Former DMK Minister K.N. Nehru leads a road roko in Tiruchi as the Opposition sponsored bandh begins in support of farmers demands. He was taken into custody.
Former DMK Minister KN Nehru leads road roko in Tiruchi
Several DMK party cadres were also arrested in Tiruchi district after they staged rokos. The arrests were made in Tiruchi, Thuraiyur and Lalgudi.
There is no disruption in bus services in Tiruchi although several shops remained closed in view of the bandh call.
9:15 a.m.: Stalin at Tiruvarur
DMK Working President M.K. Stalin and others have been held for staging a road roko in Tiruvarur, reports Renganathan.
Former Union Minister TR Baalu, former state Minister U. Mathivanan also held along with Mr. Stalin.
