Live: Cauvery row: Tamil Nadu gears up for Opposition bandh

The DMK-backed Opposition-sponsored bandh over to protest against the Union government’s failure to form the Cauvery Management Board began on Thursday, April 5, 2018. In view of this, a high alert has been sounded across Tamil Nadu.

Since March last week, protests, fasts  and demonstration  were held in Tamil Nadu against the Centre’s failure to set up the CMB. The Opposition alleged that the Tamil Nadu has failed to exert pressure on the central government to constitute the CMB.

Here are the latest updates:

Miscreants damage govt. bus in Tirupur

A side windowpane of a state-owned public transport bus was damaged when some miscreants pelted stones on the vehicle near Tirupure on Thursday.  Police officials said they had identified seven persons who hurled the stones.

Meanwhile, the traders had commenced shut down agitation in the distrct.

Tirunelveli:

DMK cadres led by former Tirunelveli MLA N. Maalairaja blocked the Nagercoil passenger train at Kurunthudaiyarpuram in Tirunelveli on Thursday morning.

Palayamkottai MLA T. P. M. Mohideen Khan too joined the rail roko. As the talks with the protesters failed, the police arrested them. About 97 dmk cadres including 17 women arrested.

More than 75% of the buses from Tirunelveli have left for the destinations as scheduled.

Dmk cadres blocking the Nagercoil passenger train at Kurunthudaiyarpuram in Tirunelveli, on Thursday.  

Go soft, police told

A high alert has been sounded across Tamil Nadu to tackle any bandh-related violence. In a note to Commissioners/Superintendents of Police, the Director-General of Police has called for all-out efforts to maintain peace amid continuing agitations such as rail/road roko and demonstrations.

The police were directed not to use force, to the extent possible.

Traders join shutdown

Traders affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangankalin Peravai will down shutters across the State on April 5 in solidarity with the farmers seeking constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.

Earlier, the traders’ body had earlier planned to shut shops and register its protest during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the State on April 11.

Petrol pumps will stay open in State

Fuel outlets in the State will not participate in the Opposition-sponsored bandh on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association president K.P. Murali said that the 4,650 pumps in the State would remain open during the bandh since only certain political parties and organisations had called for it.

Milk supply

S.A. Ponnusamy, State president, Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers Employees Welfare Association, said that members would provide in-principle support to the bandh. Milk shops would remain open and members have been asked to ensure milk supplies to consumers. Members would wear black badges.

However, since a section of retailers is participating in the bandh, they will not stock milk, Mr. Ponnusamy said.

Supreme Court assurance

On April 2, 2018, the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra orally assured Tamil Nadu that the court will ensure that the State gets its due allocation of the Cauvery water.

In an urgent mentioning by Tamil Nadu, a Bench led by Chief Justice Misra agreed to hear the State's plea to initiate contempt proceedings against the Central government for its “willful disobedience” of the February 16 court judgment in the Cauvery dispute mandating it to frame a scheme for allocation of the river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

Chief Justice Misra orally remarked that the term "scheme" used in the judgment does not mean Cauvery management board only.

The court has scheduled the case for hearing on April 9.