Opposition leaders led by DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Sunday decided to organise a dawn-to-dusk bandh on April 5 condemning the Central and State governments for failing to get the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) constituted as per the Supreme Court ruling.
The leaders sprang a surprise by staging an unannounced demonstration at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai and courted arrest. They were released later.
Soon after an all-party meeting ended at the Anna Arivalayam, the DMK’s headquarters, Mr. Stalin, accompanied by senior party leader Duraimurugan, headed to Valluvar Kottam and staged a demonstration. Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani, TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan joined them. The police were taken by surprise, and after some time, detained the leaders and the cadre. Traffic was affected for a few hours in the locality.
Courting arrest, Mr. Stalin said, “Protests will continue across the State. The police may arrest us but they can only keep us in marriage halls and release us as there will be no space in prisons.”
In Tirunelveli, DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi courted arrest along with party cadre after staging a road roko near the Anna statue. All those detained were released later.
