TIRUCHY: Police arrested 20 farmers including Mr P. Ayyakannu, state president of the 'Desiya Then Indiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayeegal Sangam', who unmindful of the scorching afternoon sun, buried themselves neck-deep in the sands of the Cauvery river at Odathurai bathing ghat here on Friday, demanding immediate constitution of Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
The protesting farmers sported “Namams” on their forehead, even as some of them slung a human skull garland around their necks. As their agitation venue on the southern banks of the river Cauvery is alongside arterial roads leading to Thanjavur, Chennai and other places, passersby in large numbers stopped to watch the farmers spectacle, causing a huge traffic jam in the area.
On information, police rushed to the spot and urged Mr. Ayyakannu to give up their agitation. Since he refused, police removed them from the scene.
Mr. Ayyakannu told newsmen that the Union government was playing with the livelihood of Tamil Nadu farmers by not forming the CMB, even after the Supreme court's direction.
He said the Centre did not ensure the legitimate share of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu which faced the prospect of becoming a desert. He appealed to the Union government to form the CMB immediately and defuse the crisis.
