Cauvery issue live updates: AIADMK leaders observe fast, shops shut in several TN districts

Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK began a State-wide hunger strike on Tuesday in protest against the Central government’s failure to set up a Cauvery management board despite a Supreme Court order.

Here are the latest updates:

The Madras High Court Advocates Association has said it would boycott court proceedings on April 6 condemning the Centre for not constituting a Cauvery management board.

DMK cadres, led by MLA K. Sundar, stage a rail ''roko'' in Walajabad, Kancheepuram district, on April 3, 2018 in protest against the Centre's failure to form a Cauvery management board.   | Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj

Rail 'roko' in Madurai

Makkal Viduthalai Katchi cadres, led by its founder K. Murugavel Rajan, block the Nagercoil-Mumbai Express outside the Madurai railway junction for 25 minutes. The police pick up 56 cadres.

AIADMK MLAs along with party cadres observing a fast in front of Swadeshi mills in Puducherry on Tuesday.   | Photo Credit: T.Singaravelou

Fasts, protests in delta districts

Thanjavur - Agriculture Minister R. Duraikannu, AIADMK Rajya Sabha member R. Vaithilingam, senior party leader and former Minister Vaigai Selvan, MLAs C.V. Sekar (Pattukkottai) and M. Govindarajan (Peravurani) are staging a dharna opposite the Head Post Office. Over 30 cadres of the Tamilaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam were rounded up when they attempted to stage a rail 'roko' near the Thanjavur Junction.

Papanasam - DMK and allies stage a protest demonstration.

Kumbakonam - Farmers belonging to the Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, led by Swamimalai Vimalnathan, resort to a novel protest by ''eating sand'' in front of the Head Post Office. Several trading establishments remain closed for the day

Tiruvarur district -  The AIADMK is staging a fast opposite the Railway Junction, led by former Minister P. Valarmathi.

In Tiruchi, the AIADMK begins a fast at Chinthamani near the Chathram Bus Stand, with the participation of senior AIADMK leader K.P. Munusamy, Ministers Vellamandi N. Natarajan and Valarmathi, besides Tiruchi MP P. Kumar.

Fasts were also being observed at Perambalur, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam and Pudukottai districts.

Traders down the shutters in Tiruchi and Pudukottai.

Shops shut in Erode on April 3, 2018, owing to the State-wide hunger strike protest by the AIADMK against the Centre for failing to form a Cauvery management board.   | Photo Credit: M. GOVARTHAN

Palaniswami, Panneerselvam join fast in Chennai

Tami Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, along with AIADMK partyment, sit on a day-long fast over Cauvery row, in Chennai on April 3, 2018.   | Photo Credit: R. Ragu

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam join their party men at Chepauk, in Chenna for a fasti. The two leaders were among the first few to reach the venue of the fast — near the State Guest House around 8.15 a.m.

A deserted Koyambedu market in Chennai on April 3, 2018 in the wake of the hunger strike protest by the AIADMK on the Cauvery issue   | Photo Credit: Pichumani Krishnan

(With inputs from T. Ramakrishnan, L. Renganathan. R. Rajaram and Sundar Subbiah).