Raja detained over land bill protest

Chennai: CPI national secretary and Rajya Sabha MP D. Raja, along with other activists, were detained on Thursday when they tried to stage a rail roko here, protesting the land Bill even as the party staged protests across the state in front of Central government establishments. As part of the nationwide protest, Raja led the protest in front of Chennai Central railway station.

Slogans were raised condemning the Land Bill with activists urging the Centre not to proceed with the “anti-farmer” measure. However, when Left party workers tried to resort to a rail roko, they were restrained and taken away, police said. Raja, CPI state secretary R, Mutharasan were among those detained at a Corporation-run community hall, police said.