CHENNAI: The state witnessed a total shutdown of shops on Bandh day and the arrest of political leaders, including DMK working president MK Stalin, who resorted to a road blockade to stop the partial operation of government buses with the aid of contract workers and AIADMK transport union members.
Throughout the state, opposition leaders proceeded to bus stands and arterial roads to block traffic protesting the operation of government buses. Stalin, who proceeded to Tiruvarur bus stand, was arrested, but he had to walk for about three kms because of the lack of police vehicles to take the protesters to the marriage hall where they were detained.
Addressing the media, Stalin thanked the government for turning the road roko protest into a procession for 4 kms. Claiming ‘unprecedented success’ for the bandh, Stalin warned of bigger protests with the support of the people if the farmers’ demands for a Cauvery Management Board, waiver of crop loans and drought relief were not met.
The CPM state secretary G.Ramakrishnan, CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan and VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan who tried to block the road at Saidapet in the City were arrested. Ramakrishnan said, “All the shops have been closed and a majority of the government buses were not operated”.
“The state and central governments should understand the people's support for the general strike and fulfil the demands of protesters”, Mutharasan said. South Indian Rivers Int-erlinking Farmers Association President, Ayyakannu, who returned to the state after agitating for 41 days in New Delhi, joined the protests with TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar and DK president K. Veeramani at Egmore. Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Koottamaippu leader T. Vellaiyan thanked the traders for downing shutters and added traders’ participation made the general strike, ‘a great success’. In the delta districts, farmers were arrested at many places for trying to block trains. Train services were not affected, but people who got down from trains at Central and Tambaram railways stations had to wait for long hours for buses.
