Cracker and match units join shutdown

AIADMK Ministers, MLAs and party functionaries observed a day-long fast in all the district headquarters. In Madurai Ministers Sellur Raju and RB Udayakumar observed the fast. In Tirunelveli AIADMK cadres led by state Adi Dravida Welfare Minister Rajalakshmi staged it. State Minister of Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju led the hunger strike in Thoothukudi and in Nagercoil, it was headed by state Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture K Pandiarajan. 

The Ministers said that AIADMK will be continuously protesting till the formation of the CMB. Expressing support for the ruling government hunger strike, close to 50 per cent of shops remained shut on Tuesday in the south. 

In Sivakasi, more than 800 crackers units and 400 crackers shops downed their shutters expressing support for the CMB protests. Similarly in Kovilpatti, matches units remained closed for the day.  

The Opposition parties staged road rokos. The Makkal Viduthalai Katchi cadres blocked the Mumbai-Nagercoil Express.