Shutdown in Tamil Nadu, Stalin arrested

Police deployed in large numbers to prevent incidents in major centres across state

Normal life was affected in Tamil Nadu amid a shutdown called by opposition parties yesterday to press for immediate resolution of farmers’ issues.

DMK working president M.K. Stalin and others were arrested.

Several DMK cadres, along with Stalin, protesting in Thiruvarur were detained by the police. DMK and other opposition parties were holding protest demonstrations in different parts of the state.

Government offices open

While shops and hotels downed wee shuttered across the state, government buses plied on the roads. Offices of the central and state governments, public and private sector undertakings remained open.

Police were deployed in large numbers to prevent any untoward incidents in major centres across the state.

Demanding immediate action on the part of state and central governments in resolving the issues of Tamil Nadu’s farmers, opposition parties last week decided to observe the shutdown strike on April 25.

A meeting of opposition parties chaired by Stalin at the party’s headquarters here decided to call for a statewide shutdown yesterday among the several resolutions adopted there.

The opposition parties also urged the Tamil Nadu government to waive all farm loans and convene a special assembly session to discuss farmers’ issues.

The meeting also passed resolutions urging the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, the Cauvery Regulatory Authority, declare the Cauvery delta region as Special Agriculture Zone, scrapping of the hydro-carbon project and others.

The shutdown strike was called by DMK, Congress, CPM, CPI, VCK and IUML. Trade unions affiliated to these parties also lent their support.

Trade bodies representing the film industry, farmers and others also extended their support.