Tamil Nadu Opposition parties stage human chain protests for CMB
The agitation was part of a series of protests being organised by the DMK, its allies, the Congress and IUML, and other friendly parties.
Chennai: The Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu led by the DMK formed human chains across the State on Monday demanding the immediate constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC).
The massive human chain protest was held in line with the decision taken at the DMK-sponsored all political party meeting, here, to condemn the State government and mount more pressure on the Centre to form the CMB and the CWRC as per the Feb.16 judgment of the Supreme Court on Cauvery dispute case. It may be recalled that the Central government has moved the Supreme Court seeking clarification on the ‘scheme.’
The agitation was part of a series of protests being organised by the DMK, its allies, the Congress and IUML, and other friendly parties. In addition, friendly parties including the MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI (M), Drav-idar Kazhagam and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, too also participated in the human chain agitation.
While DMK working president M. K. Stalin led the protest at Pudukkottai, DMK Rajya Sabha Member Kanimozhi along with DMK women’s wing members led the agitation in front of the party state headquarters — Anna Arivalayam here.
DK president K. Veeramani and CPI (M) state secretary K. Balakrishnan formed human chains at another place in the city, while MDMK chief Vaiko and CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan led the protests at Thanjavur and Tiruvarur respectively. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan presided over the agitation in Krishnagiri, Congress Legislature Party leader K. R. Ramasamy in Sivaganga, IUML national president K.M. Khader Mohideen in Perambalur and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader M. H. Jawahirullah in Tiruchy.
DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi who led the human chain on the arterial Anna Salai here alleged that the Tamil people have become pawns in the hands of the BJP-led Centre for the May 12 Karnataka Assembly election. “Non formation of the CMB by the Centre goes against both the Tamil Nadu people and the Supreme Court verdict,” she said.
Claiming that the State government was “against Tamil Nadu and its people” Ms Kanimozhi said there would be change of rule in TN and at Delhi. “TN will be freed of its troubles only when the AIADMK government is dislodged. DMK will surely form the government and retrieve the rights of TN by constituting the CMB,” she told reporters.
To a question on an article in AIADMK’s mouthpiece that both the AIADMK and BJP were working like a double-barrelled gun, she said the “the double-barrelled gun is turned against the Tamils. There’s no protection from it.”