Cauvery Row: MK Stalin leads Opposition in statewide protest, gets detained

MK Stalin, the working president of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), had led a statewide protest march on Thursday to constitute the Centre’s failure over setting up the Cauvery Management Board.

Stalin, who was leading the protest march along with other leaders of the Opposition, was detained by the Chennai police for blocking roads shortly after the march began.

With the traders’ body in the state backing the shutdown and protest, many places witnessed closure of retail shops, grocery outlets, and other establishments, including in Chennai and Cauvery delta districts Thiruchirapalli and Thanjavur.

 However, emergency establishments like the banks, pharmacies, hospitals, and schools were kept open. The operations of state-run buses too were affected due to the protest march. The protest saw demonstrations and impromptu rallies.

Also Read| Cauvery Row: Tamil Nadu government acting subservient to Centre, says Kamal Haasan

Stalin was leading the protest with a black flag in his hand, with thousands of party cadres of various political organisations and parties participating and following Stalin. Accompanying Stalin in the protest were big names like Su Thirunavukkarasar, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, and Thol Thirumavalavan, chief of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

Stalin took to Twitter to announce the strike and said that the BJP-led Centre is purposely ignoring the formation of the Cauvery Management Board. He tweeted, “Cauvery is our birthright. The whole barrier struggle is taking place across the state against the central BJP government which seeks to tear it down and against the anti-crony AIADMK government. # CauveryManagementBoard set up will Oya!”

காவிரி நம் பிறப்புரிமை. அதனை தட்டிப் பறிக்க முயலும் மத்திய பாஜக அரசிற்கு எதிராகவும், அதற்குத் துணை போகும் குதிரைபேர அதிமுக அரசிற்கு எதிராகவும் மாநிலம் முழுவதும் முழு கடையடைப்பு போராட்டம் வெற்றிகரமாக நடைபெற்றுக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. #CauveryManagementBoard அமைக்கும் வரை ஓய மாட்டோம்! pic.twitter.com/IfHF2KcMZu

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) April 5, 2018

While in Thiruchirapally, KN Nehru, former minister and DMK strongman, was leading the rally.

The protests had been going on since the past four days by the DMK and other opposition parties.