Water crisis: DMK stages ‘empty pot’ agitation across TN against State govt

DMK MLA and former city mayor M Subramanian, who led an agitation here, stated that instead of organising special prayers at temples the government should execute plans with rationale to help address the situation. “Conducting such rituals have no utility,” he said. Former minister and DMK leader K N Nehru led a protest in Tiruchy.

Lok Sabha MP Dayanidhi Maran and DMK senior functionary P K Sekar Babu staged a demonstration with empty pots, demanding that the government ensure drinking water supply to the people.

Similar protests were held across Tamil Nadu with raising of slogans such as “Vendum Vendum Kudineer Vendum” (we want water) and “Edappadi Arasai Kandikirom” (we condemn Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s government).

In a related development, members of Tamil Nadu Towheed Jamat offered special prayers in mosques praying for rain.

DMK president M K Stalin will lead an agitation on June 24 urging the State government to make efforts on a war footing to resolve the prevailing water crisis.

Stalin will lead the agitation at Chepauk, which would be attended by Dayanidhi Maran and Chepauk MLA J Anbazhagan.

The principal opposition party had in fact demanded the resignation of state local administration minister S P Velumani for failing to foresee and manage the drought situation in the state, especially Chennai where water scarcity was forcing a few private establishments, including hotels and hostels to down the shutters.

Stalin had launched a water distribution program, urging his functionaries to supply water to needy areas through tanker lorries.