Ebb and flow of protests continue to stir up Tamil Nadu

VILLUPURAM, COIMBATORE, THANJAVUR, MADURAI: Protests against the Centre for failing to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) continued in the State on Sunday.
During the protests, a toll gate was vandalised near Ulundurpet in Villupuram district. Nearly 700 cadre of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) were detained from across the district after they staged protests.

On Sunday, nearly 300 hundred members led by TVK chief T Velmurugan gathered at the toll gate on Chennai-Trichy NH in Senguruchi and raised slogans against the Centre for failing to constitute CMB and increasing toll. Several members started vandalising the toll booths. Glass panels, billing machines and chairs were damaged. Following the incident, the protesters were asked to disperse, which they refused. Following this, police resorted to a mild lathicharge and detained them.

DMK and Congress are disturbing peace and harmony by creating law and order issues, said BJP State President Tamilisai Soundararajan in Kaveripattinam in Krishnagiri district.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a party meeting, she said, “In 1974, DMK which was in power failed to solve the Cauvery water dispute. Even when the same party was in alliance with UPA for 10 years, it could not do anything.”

The Centre would take time to constitute the CMB as it was opposed by Congress-led Karnataka government, she said, pointing fingers at DMK, Congress and their alliance parties. Meanwhile, members of Naam Tamilar Katchi opposed arrival of Tamilisai by waving black flag.

A school teacher near Kumbakonam was arrested on Saturday night after a video went viral  in which he is seen burning the national flag as a mark of protest against the Centre for not forming the CMB.
M Prabhu (34) of Madha Koil Street in Pudhupadaiyur near Kumbakonam, works as arts teacher and has been associated with Tamil Desiya Periyakkam.

In the clip, Prabhu says he was committing this act as a protest against the Centre for usurping rights of Tamil Nadu over Cauvery waters. As the video went viral, a special team led by SI Keerthivasan arrested Prabhu.

Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar said that the government would take steps to constitute CMB.
Ahead of the one-day fasting that will be organised by AIADMK to exert pressure on the Centre to constitute CMB on April 3, the members of the Madurai Rural AIADMK party cadre organised a meet at Madurai North MLA office on Sunday. When asked whether AIADMK MPs would resign over the issue, Udayakumar said that only when we have representations in the Parliament, we would be able to achieve our demands.

‘Ready to support AIADMK over CMB’

Coimbatore: We will extend our support to the protests called by the AIADMK and DMK to push the Centre for CMB, said MLA and founder of Kongu Ilaignar Peravai U Thaniyarasu. “We will give cooperate with AIADMK, which has called for a hunger strike over the issue on Tuesday. We will also support decisions taken in all-party meeting convened by DMK,” he said.