AIADMK hunger stir, traders’ protest to cripple life today

While the pro-CMB agitation intensified across the state with protesters targeting several central government offices in the city on Monday, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami held a brief meeting to discuss steps to ensure normalcy during the hunger strike on Tuesday. 

Deputy CM O Panneerselvam also held a separate meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and party elders. 

During the protests, the I-T office, post offices and trains turned out to be the target following the call by Tamil outfits. As mainstream opposition parties under the DMK too joined, the agitations hit a peak in many places across the state. 

Protesters belonging to the May 17 Movement stoned the Shastri Bhavan here housing many central government offices. When the police tried to disperse them, they burnt portraits and effigies of PM Narendra Modi. Later, they blocked traffic which led to a scuffle between them and the policemen. Finally, around 100 protesters were arrested. 

Normal life across the state is likely to be hit on Tuesday as well since the ruling party will observe a statewide hunger-strike and traders will down shutters to express their solidarity for the demand to form CMB. Milk dealers had appealed to the public to stock milk and had offered to stay open until 9am. 

However, names of the CM and deputy CM did not figure in the list of leaders who will be leading the fast protest. Members of AIADMK trade unions of state-run transport corporations are likely to stay away from work even as officials maintained that they would operate the usual fleet on Tuesday. Druggists’ association have also announced they would join the hunger stir. 

Amid escalating protests over the Cauvery issue, Governor Banwarilal Purohit rushed to New Delhi on Monday. Though Raj Bhavan sources said it was a routine visit, sources said he left to meet PM Narendra Modi to discuss the law and order situation in the state.