Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakanth visited Kalathur village near Kaveripakkam on Monday and interacted with the nearly 200 women who were cooking in the open front of the Bhajanai Koil on the outskirts of the village for the fourth day.
Common meals
The women who came out of their houses during the day cooked common meals in the open. They were protesting in this novel manner against the arrest of 32 men in their families who protested against the proposal to open a government sand quarry in the Palar River bed. The men were also against the alleged police action of visiting the houses in the village, searching, chasing, attacking and arresting the men in their houses on Friday. While 18 persons were arrested on June 3 for protesting against the proposal for opening the sand quarry, another 14 were arrested in the village on Friday for staging a protest at the Collectorate on Friday demanding the release of those arrested earlier.
Talking to newspersons at the site of the women’s agitation, Mr.Vijayakanth said that the DMDK will continue its agitation till justice is meted out to the villagers.
The government should realize that it is a government meant for the people. It should give up the proposal to establish a sand quarry in the village.
While the police have a right to take action against wrong-doers, they cannot commit excesses. The police should hold talks with the agitating women and arrive at an amicable solution to the problem, he said, and urged the district administration to come forward and facilitate a solution.
DMDK volunteers including P.R. Manoharan, Sholinghur MLA and R.M. Babu Murugavel, Arni MLA submitted a petition on behalf of Mr. Vijayakanth to the District Collector R. Nanthagopal during the weekly public grievances redressal day meeting at the Collectorate here on Monday, demanding the release of the arrested persons.
Thol. Thirumavalavan, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader also visited the agitating women in Kalathur and expressed his solidarity with them. Later, talking to newspersons, he urged the government to release the arrested men. The VCK will conduct an agitation in front of the RDO’s Office in Ranipet on June 19 if they were not released by then, he said.
