Protests erupt across TN
CAUVERY ISSUE Two DMK workers tried to immolate themselves while protesting; Stalin warns of more bandhs THE TWO ACTIVISTS, IDENTIFIED AS PT MURUGESAN AND SINGAI SADASHIVAM, DOUSED THEMSELVES WITH KEROSENE AND TRIED TO SELF IMMOLATE
Two DMK workers allegedly made self-immolation bids in Coimbatore on Monday amid a state-wide stir for setting up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) at the earliest to implement the Supreme Court’s February 16 verdict on water allocation among the riparian states.
The stir, spearheaded by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and a slew of pro-Tamil outfits, saw a slew of sit-ins and demonstrations at various places, including Chennai, Tiruvarur and Madurai.
The two DMK activists, identified as P T Murugesan and Singai Sadashivam, doused themselves with kerosene and tried to self immolate at Coimbatore, the police said.
The duo, however, were overpowered by the policemen present at the spot and whisked away to a nearby police station, they added.
Local DMK leaders led the protests across Tamil Nadu for immediate constitution of the CMB in keeping with party chief MK Stalin’s statement on Sunday. Demonstrations were also held in Thanjavur, the hub of the Cauvery delta region by cadres of various outfits including the DMK, the Congress and the Left.
Rail blockades were staged at various places including Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Pudukottai by the agitating cadres of the opposition parties and pro- Tamil outfits. Demonstrations were also held in front of the Central government offices in several cities, including Chennai, Erode and neighbouring Puducherry.
In Puducherry, the demonstration were held by the activists of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK), a pro-Tamil outfit.
During the protest in Chennai by ‘May 17 Movement,’ a proTamil outfit, some of its cadres allegedly hurled sandals at the signboard of a building that housed several central government offices, briefly triggering political tension.
Both the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government had on March 31 moved the Supreme Court on the issue of constitution and composition of the CMB in compliance with its February 16 order. The apex court had on February 16 raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu’s share, while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin, saying “the issue of drinking water has to be placed on a higher pedestal”.
COIMBATORE: