CHENNAI: An all-party meeting convened by farmers associations and attended by Opposition parties including the DMK and BJP, on Thursday decided to stop all train services for 48 hours from October 17 to 18, when the Cauvery issues comes up before the Supreme Court. If the Centre refused to withdraw is affidavit opposing the Supreme Court judgment to form the CMB on that day, farmers and political parties will mobilise about 10 lakh people to hold a march towards Raj Bhavan to besiege it, besides announcing a series of announcements against the Union government.
BJP state president Tamilsai Soundararajan was one of the participants of the meeting where representatives of political parties, farmers and traders lashed out at the Centre for opposing the Supreme Court verdict to form the Cauvery Management Board. Those who took part in the meeting included DMK deputy general secretary V.P. Duraisamy, former Congress MP S. Peter Alphonse, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, MDMK deputy general secretary E. Sathya, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai leader Vellaiyan and representatives of CPI, CPM, IUML, TMC and other parties.
The protest will not be the usual rail roko when the protesters formally block trains at railway stations and court arrest, said Deivasigamani, joint movement of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association. The agitations will be held throughout the state in all villages and towns where the trains are operated and farmers will resort to cooking and staying on railway tracks for two days, he said.
Top leaders of all the political parties would directly take part in the agitations to stop the trains. Representatives of farmers and political parties will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee and request him to direct the centre to act according to the Constitution and comply with the Supreme Court order on the Cauvery Management Board.
