Motorists feel heat of farmers’ protest in city

“While the atmosphere was charged-up with farmers protesting in their loin clothes, the buzz surrounding the protest venue was that students might gather in support of the farmers. To prevent any further congregation, a stretch of Wallajah Road, ahead of the state guest house junction and Ezhilagam junction, was barricaded,” said a senior police official. 

The motorists who had to go to Anna Salai from Kamarajar Salai had been forced to ride via Swami Sivananda Salai instead of Wallajah Road. Similarly, the motorists who usually take Wallajah Road to reach Kamarajar Salai were diverted through other roads, including Triplicane High Road.

The traffic chaos lasted late into the day until the protesting farmers came up with their announcement to put off their stir temporarily. Later, the cops escorted the farmers to Egmore Raiway Station. 

The farmers got the nation’s attention in the 40-day-long protest in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi which culminated on April 23. 

“We were devastated to learn that the state has joined the Centre by moving the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the Madras High Court’s order directing state to grant relief for farmers irrespective of the landholding as  against the state’s coverage only small and marginal farmers,” Ayyakannu said.