Tamil Nadu bandh: DMK working president M K Stalin was detained by the police on Thursday, as he lead the state-wide protest against the Centre’s inaction in constituting a Cauvery Management Board in Chennai (Source: Twitter/@mkstalin)
The state-wide bandh in Tamil Nadu observed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Opposition over the Centre’s failure to constitute a Cauvery Management Board has ended. DMK working president M K Stalin, who was leading the protest from Chennai, was detained by the police.
Hundreds of workers, led by DMK, marched towards Anna Memorial on Marina beach. Majority of shops remain closed across the state, bus services were suspended and traffic snarls were reported as cadres halted traffic along their path. There was heavy police personnel deployed to ensure law and order was maintained.
Also Read | Continuing turbulence over Cauvery: What stakeholders say
Ruling party AIADMK, last week, moved a petition in the Supreme Court seeking contempt action against the Centre for not setting up a Cauvery Management Board (CMB). On the same day, the Centre petitioned the court seeking a three month extension to implement the court’s February 16 order. AIADMK’s plea will be heard on Monday.
Bus services between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu resume after the protest in Tamil Nadu ends. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation had stopped its services in the morning today, reports ANI.
The demand for setting up of a constitution board echoes in Parliament as well, with both Houses seeing frequent disruptions from MPs over the issue. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any business today, while Rajya Sabha was adjourned as well but will resume at 2 pm. The Congress-led Opposition staged protests outside Parliament this morning over a number of issues, including the Cauvery dispute.
Here's a quick update on what's happening in Tamil Nadu: The DMK is leading a state-wide bandh demanding that the Centre immediately set up a Cauvery Management Board. Retail and grocery shops across the state remained shut today, while operations of state-run buses were also affected. DMK working president M K Stalin led the protest from Chennai, where he was seen holding a black flag and marching along with thousands of cadres.
Taking to Twitter, Stalin says the agitation across the state today is against the BJP government's inaction and the ruling AIADMK government. Cauvery is our birthright, he adds.
The Congress-led government in Puducherry has moved a petition in the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Centre to immediately implement its verdict in "true letter and spirit", reports ANI. Puducherry has been allocated 7 TMC ft of water from the Cauvery river.
The Cauvery dispute has also been raised in Parliament, with AIADMK and DMK members disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over it. Here are some pictures from Parliament where MPs have been demanding constitution of a Cauvery Management Board. (Express Photo/Tashi Tobgyal and Praveen Jain)
The Cauvery river flows through Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the UT of Puducherry. The dispute between the states, mainly Karnataka and TN, is over the sharing of its waters. The Supreme Court, which passed an order on the matter on February 16, asked the Centre to formulate a “scheme” for dividing the river’s waters among the states.
So, where do the parties concerned now stand in this matter? Here's everything you need to know.
Traffic snarls are reported from Chennai, due to the protests. Party workers are blocking traffic in parts of the city, including near the Marina Beach. The police, which deployed additional forces to Marina, is trying to maintain law and order.
The protests are being staged in other cities in Tamil Nadu as well. In Coimbatore, shops are closed today as traders participate in the bandh.
DMK working president has been detained by the police in Chennai.
DMK working president M K Stalin had previously said that the strike today would be like the Jallikattu one held a year ago. Then, too, thousands of people had gathered on Marina beach, bringing the city to a standstill.
Police resort to lathicharge near Wallajah Road, in a bid to prevent people from entering the Marina Beach road stretch. There is heavy deployment of police across Chennai, and additional teams are being rushed to maintain law and order at the Marina.
There are hundreds of cadres from Opposition parties marching towards Anna Memorial on Marina beach right now. The march is being led by the DMK. The police will restrict the entry to Marina beach side.
The DMK-led Opposition has called for a state-wide protest in Tamil Nadu on Thursday. Shops across the state remain closed today and bus services have been suspended in the wake of the protest. In the last week, there have been several protests against the Centre's failure to constitute a Cauvery Management Board. Track live updates on the strike here.
(With inputs from ENS)