Cauvery row: DMK joins a state-wide rail blockade protest announced by farmer's federation

Opposition parties including the DMK on Monday joined a state-wide rail blockade protest announced by a farmer's federation over the Cauvery issue. Rail services in the state may be affected on Monday and Tuesday as major political parties are slated to lead a state wide 48-hour rail roko demonstration to urge the Centre to immediately constitute the Cauvery Management Board.

DMK Treasurer and Opposition Leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly, MK Stalin was among those who participated in theprotests held in different parts of the state including Chennai and the Cauvery delta districts.

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Stalin led a procession at Perambur even as scores of political workers belonging to DMK, the Left parties and MDMK among others staged a rail roko at Thanjavur and Cuddalore, and were detained.

A farmers' federation had called for the two-day railblockade starting on Monday, urging the Centre to immediatelyconstitute the CMB. The protests come days after a high-level technical team,set up by the Supreme Court, completed its inspection of Cauvery basin region in Tamil Nadu to assess the situation inthe state. The team, which also inspected the Cauvery basin inKarnataka, is set to submit its report in the apex court on Monday. The apex court had set up the team while hearing apetition by Tamil Nadu government seeking release of Cauvery water by Karnataka.