Opposition asks people to hoist black flags during PM’s visit

In a joint statement released on Sunday, DMK, Dravidar Kazhagam, Congress, MDMK, CPM, IUML, VCK, CPI and MMK have appealed to the people that they should hoist black flags in their houses to categorically express their deep dissatisfaction and united opposition in an emergency when Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery rights have been jeopardised. 

Stating that farmers have been subjected to inexplicable miseries due to failure of releasing Cauvery waters on scheduled June 12 during the last six years, the statement said the Prime Minister was visiting the state after putting the Supreme Court verdict ordering constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) in cold storage by seeking clarification and three months time when over 13 combined drinking water schemes fed by Cauvery River have been affected and over 10 districts were facing drinking water crisis in Tamil Nadu. 

Recalling that the decision to wave black flag was taken at the all-party meeting on April 1, the joint statement reiterated that workers of the nine parties would wave black flags at PM as planned. 

Meanwhile, Pattali Makkal Katchi has said that the principal opposition party DMK has expressed its consent to participate in the total shutdown condemning the Centre over Cauvery row on April 11. The PMK leaders also said that the party has roped in traders and farmers associations and other workers unions to make the bandh a grand success. 

According to party leaders, they had invited the DMK to join the bandh and they received communication from the party that DMK will extend its support to the agitation. “We invited all the parties including DMK, Congress, Left and Naam Tamilar Katchi,” said a party functionary of PMK. They had already received support from Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), CPI and CPM. Further, they will be ready to accept any political party’s support, the PMK leader added. Moreover, as many as 50 traders and workers unions have expressed support to the bandh. 

DMK working president, MK Stalin has in a statement said, “We received an invite from founder of PMK S Ramadoss for participating in the bandh, to be held on April 11. Since this is a survival issue, we will take part in the protest, irrespective of politics. We will fully support the total shutdown.”