PM visit: Stalin, Bharathiraja firm on black flag protests

MK Stalin, who started his yatra from Velankanni and travelled through along Paravai, Pappakovil, Orhtathur, Nariyakudi and Aamazhai, said, as the Centre has failed to frame the Cauvery Management Board, the DMK and its allies have decided in the all-party meeting to show black flags to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu on April 12. 

“We got information that the Prime Minister is not only inaugurating the defence expo but also has a plan to visit Chennai for a function and as decided, cadre from all the parties would show black flags,” he said. 

Claiming that the state government has planned to arrest the leaders of various parties as a preventive measure, Stalin asked how many people can they arrest and that jails would overflowing with political party cadre. “Even the public are ready to hoist black flags atop their houses and everyone will wear black attire to express opposition to the PM. Then, how many people can they arrest,” he asked. 

TKIPP to protest
Filmmaker Bharathiraja said the Thamizhar Kalai Ilakkiya Panpaatu Peravai (TKIPP) will show black flags to protest Modi’s visit to Chennai. 

He said, “If the Prime Minister had set up the Cauvery water management board, we would have welcomed him with a red carpet but now he will be greeted with black flags. He is the decision-maker here. We want him to understand the sentiment of the people.” 

Bharathiraja deemed the sporadic violence that broke out during the anti-IPL protests, called for by the collective response to the delay in setting up the Cauvery water management board, as a reaction to recent events.

At the press conference which took place before the decision of the BCCI to shift the remaining IPL matches out of Chennai, the collective said it will continue to protest the cricket matches and won’t allow any further games to take place in the city. NTK chief Seeman and Bharathiraja welcomed the news that the games will indeed be shifted out of Chennai.