A large number of DMK cadre staged a demonstration here on Saturday condemning the move by the State government to acquire lands from farmers without their consent for the Salem – Chennai eight-lane road project.
They condemned the survey of lands in villages without holding discussion with the local community and alleged intimidation of farmers by the police.
Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan, former Minister and deputy general secretary of the party, led the agitation in which R. Rajendran, MLA and central district secretary, S. R. Sivalingam, secretary of the west district unit, Veerapandi A. Raja, in-charge of the east district unit, R. M. Selvaganapthi, former minister, participated.
Ms. Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan said that the project would badly hit the farming community. It has been proposed for the benefit of the corporate companies. She condemned the State government for supporting the Centre in the implementation of this project. She urged the government to drop both the green corridor and the Salem airport expansion projects.
The cadre raised slogans against both the Centre and the State governments for taking efforts to acquire fertile lands by force and also the arrest of farmers and activists who opposed the move.
Some of the affected farmers participated in the agitation with cattle, plough, etc and displayed tapioca plants and sugarcane. At the end of the agitation, the DMK cadre belonging to the three units of the composite district staged road roko in the city to condemn the arrest of Mr. Stalin in Chennai.
They raised slogans against the Chief Minister and demanded the immediate release of Mr. Stalin. The police arrested 437 of them and removed all of them from the scene. Due to the agitation, the flow of vehicles on the busy roads leading to the Collectorate was affected for some time.