Protests on for Cauvery board
spoke of only formulating a mechanism.
At the same time, the Centre, too, has filed a clarification petition in the SC, asking for three months to implement its judgment in view of the May assembly elections in Karnataka. The Centre had said that due to divergent views expressed by the four governments (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry) on the “framing of the scheme”, it is felt that if any scheme was framed by the Centre, the states may again approach the court.
The Centre has asked the SC whether it has any flexibility in modifying the composition of the board to “a mixture of administrative and technical body” and “not purely a technical body”. CHENNAI: Two DMK workers allegedly made self-immolation bids in Coimbatore on Monday amid a statewide stir for setting up Cauvery Management Board (CMB) to i mplement the Supreme Court’s verdict on water allocation among the riparian states.
Amid protests across Tamil Nadu, governor Banwarilal Purohit left for Delhi by an evening flight, airport officials said.
The stir, spearheaded by DMK and a slew of pro-tamil outfits, saw various demonstrations across the state, including Chennai, Thiruvarur and Madurai.
According to police, over 1,000 people were detained and released later in the day.
The two DMK activists, identified as PT Murugesan and Singai Sadashivam, doused themselves with kerosene and tried to immolate themselves in Coimbatore, police said. The duo, however, were overpowered by the policemen and taken a nearby station.
PMK founder leader S Ramadoss announced his party’s support for Tuesday’s call for shutdown by farmers’ organisations and traders, besides Dmk-led Opposition parties’ April 5 strike.
Major Opposition-affiliated trade unions, including the Labour Progressive Front (of DMK), and All India Trade Union Congress (of CPI) have decided to support the April 5 shutdown.
Hitting out at the Bjp-led Centre for “trampling the rights of Tamil Nadu” on the Cauvery issue, it condemned the ruling AIADMK for “not mounting pressure on the Union government.”
Rail blockades were staged in Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Pudukottai while protests were also held in front of the central government offices in Chennai.