Cauvery stir halts trains on all routes in Tamil Nadu

The protests were held against the stand of BJP-led Union government in the Supreme Court opposing the immediate setting up of the Board. Thousands of protestors participated in the rail roko demonstrations and courted arrest. They were lodged in the community and marriage halls, police said, adding they were likely to be released later. 

The agitations marked the beginning of a 48-hour rail blockade by farmers’ outfits which has the support of opposition parties including the DMK, Congress, IUML, CPI(M), CPI, MDMK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. 

Farmer leader and chief of National South Indian Rivers Inter-Linking Farmers Association P Ayyakannu led the protest in Tiruchy by squatting on the railway track in Kudamuratti bridge area. Ryots squatted on railway tracks wearing green turbans and planted paddy seedlings in the narrow gap between railway tracks. 

“We will continue our stir. Tomorrow also such agitations will be held. We plan to block Vaigai Superfast Express. We urge the Centre to not make us paupers (by adopting a stance against CMB),” Ayyakannu said.

In Srirangam, about 200 DMK cadre headed by former Transport Minister and DMK district secretary KN Nehru who had attempted to enter the Srirangam railway station were detained by the police.

Similarly, DMK cadre, and PWA party members had staged similar rail roko protests across Golden Rock, Fort railway station, Tiruverumbur railway station, Uthamarkoil bridge, Lalgudi, and Poongudi localities resulting in the detention of as many as 1,263 protesters including 881 in the Tiruchy city limits alone.

Similar protests in the entire Cauvery Delta region of the state including Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts witnessed huge participation. 

MDMK chief Vaiko and CPI(M) State Secretary G Ramakrishnan squatted on the railway track at the busy Chennai Central Railway station. Similarly, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan participated in a rail roko stir in Tiruvarur district. Vaiko told reporters that the stir was to protect the rights of Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue. Blaming the BJP regime at the Centre for having a “hidden agenda,” to “support Karnataka,” he said, it was being done for “political gains.” 

Former Chennai Mayor and DMK legislator Ma Subramanian (Saidapet), senior DMK leader Duraimurugan (Vellore Dt), former Union Minister TR Baalu (Tambaram), former state Ministers including EV Velu (Tiruvannamalai), K Ponmudi (Villupuram), and KN Nehru (Tiruchy), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavlavan (Basin Bridge) led the rail roko demonstrations.

In some places including Madurai and Cuddalore, police resorted to baton-charge to disperse a section of farmers and party workers who insisted on blocking trains. Veteran CPI leader Nallakannu was detained at Virudhunagar near Madurai along with 300 others for blocking a train. 

More than 6,000 cadre and functionaries attached to various political parties were arrested by the police for blocking trains and for attempting to bock trains in various places in the western districts of the state, on Monday. Tensed moments prevailed at the Coimbatore Junction due to heated exchange of words between the police and nearly 500 cadres attached to the CPI, CPM, MDMK, VCK and Congress who had tried to enter the station and block trains. More arrests were made at Pollachi, Mettupalayam, Hosur and Sulur railway stations. 

In Puducherry, more than 100 volunteers of DMK including convenors R Siva and SP Sivakumar were arrested when they resorted to a rail roko.