Numerous protests were staged across the core delta region of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts on Tuesday to impress upon the Central government the need for constituting the Cauvery Management Board as per the Supreme Court’s verdict.
In Thanjavur, Agriculture Minister R. Doraikkannu, AIADMK Rajya Sabha member R. Vaithilingam, senior party leader and former Minister Vaigai Selvan, MLAs C.V. Sekar (Pattukkottai) and M. Govindarajan (Peravurani) sat on a fast along with hundreds of party cadre opposite the Head Post Office here.
Meanwhile, several cadre belonging to the DMK and its allies in the Opposition gathered outside the LIC Divisional Office on the Gandhiji Salai here and raised slogans denouncing the Centre for its ‘dithering’ on the CMB issue. Some unruly protesters pelted the sign boards with stones and damaged them.
Students protest
Over 30 cadre of the Tamilaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam were rounded up when they attempted to stage a rail roko near the Thanjavur Junction. Students staged a protest in front of the Tamil University.
Many shops remained closed as a section of traders had given a call for a bandh in support of the farmers.
Advocates boycotted courts, took out a rally to the State Bank of India’s main branch and staged a demonstration there. In Papanasam, the DMK and its allies staged a protest demonstration.
Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Munnetra Sangam sat on a protest fast.
In Kumbakonam, farmers belonging to the Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, led by Swamimalai Vimalnathan, resorted to a novel protest by eating sand in front of the Head Post Office.
Advocates boycotted courts and staged a demonstration in front of the court complex.
In Tiruvarur, the AIADMK organised a fast opposite the railway junction, in which sitting as well as former Ministers took part, along with farmer leaders.
Around 95 people who tried to stage rail roko in Tiruvarur and Nidamangalam stations were intercepted and arrested. Cadres belonging to the DMK and other Opposition parties staged demonstrations.
More than 4,500 students of the Thiru Vi Ka Government Arts College, Tiruvarur, and Sri Rajagopalaswamy Government Arts College, Mannargudi, boycotted classes and staged protests to press for the demand. More than 100 students of the Bharathidasan University Constituent College, Tiruthuraipoondi, staged a protest demonstration before classes commenced.
Transport unions join in
In Nagapattinam district, most of the shops in Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Sirkali, Tranquebar, Vedaranyam and other areas remained shut throughout the day.
Many shops that transacted business displayed black flags and traders resorted to a human chain protest in Mayiladuthurai.
The Federation of Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Trade Union would join the strike called by the Opposition parties on April 5 to condemn the Centre for its failure to set up the Cauvery Management Board, according to a press release issued by unions including the LPF, the CITU and the AITUC.
