Thousands of Thowheed Jamath protesters clog roads

Chennai: Traffic was thrown out of gear in the city along arterial Anna Salai on Tuesday as about 14,000 members of Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath staged a jail bharo protest demanding reservation for Muslims in state and Central government departments.

Across the state it is estimated that close to 70,000 people participated in the demo and Tirunelveli also witnessed massive participation, choking the district, where about 24,000 convened demanding reservation.

Kanyakumari, Virudhunagar, Madurai and Ramanathapuram also recorded demonstrations affecting normal life.

In Chennai, office-goers and motorists were stranded by noon as scores of TNTJ representatives and cadres thronged central Chennai.

As the crowd swelled during lunch hour, the police cordoned off the area and detained the demonstrators.

However, traffic was restored within a few hours. Pressing for various demands, including 10 per cent reservation for Muslims, the volunteers raised slogans criticising the Union and the state governments for ignoring the demands raised by minorities and demanded immediate implementation of the recommendations of Sachar and Justice Ranganath Mishra committees.

In Chennai, the about 6,000 members led by Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath president P. Jainullabudeen staged a demonstraton near Rajaratnam stadium at Egmore before they were detained, the police said.

Volunteers of TNTJ from other districts staged a demonstration under the leadership of state secretary Yusuf Ali and other office-bearers in various places, they said.

They demanded 10 per cent reservation in education and employment in Central government organisations and 7 per cent in state government organisations.

They said they would support the party that assures reservation for Muslims, in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.