Scores of CPI (M) cadre and fishermen led by the party’s State secretary N. Varadarajan were arrested when they tried to take out a procession towards Raj Bhavan to highlight the attack on Tamil fishermen, allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy, and to demand withdrawal of the Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill. They were released in the evening.
The original plan was to organise a picketing in front of Raj Bhavan and leaders and cadre assembled before the Rajiv Gandhi statue at Saidapet. Later, they changed the venue to Panagal Maligai.
After raising slogans, a team of leaders led by Mr. Varadarajan visited Raj Bhavan and presented a memorandum to the Secretary to the Governor. Mr. Varadarajan, addressing the protestors, accused the Sri Lankan navy of attacking Tamil fishermen even after the end of war and completion of presidential polls. “You can no longer justify the attack on fishermen on the ground that they are smuggling weapons to the LTTE since the war is over.”
Those who were arrested included CPI (M) Central Committee members G. Ramakrishnan and W.R. Varadha Rajan; party MP T.K. Rangarajan, State secretariat member Noor Mohamed, and fishermen confederation general secretary Karunanidhi.
