Opposition plans rallies from Ariyalur, Mukkombu over Cauvery issue in Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI : Close on the heels of a spirited statewide bandh marked by road and rail blockades, the opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Friday announced that two rallies would be taken out through the Cauvery Delta region to step up pressure on the Centre to form the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC). While the first Cauvery Rights Retrieval March will start from Mukkombu in Tiruchy on Saturday, the second will be launched from Ariyalur on April 9.
“Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani will inaugurate both rallies,” DMK working president M K Stalin told reporters after a meeting of opposition parties. Top leaders of various parties, including Congress State chief S Thirunavukkarasar, Veeramani, CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan, CPI secretary R Mutharasan and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, participated in the meeting convened by the DMK at its headquarters Anna Arivalayam here.
Opposition parties’ leaders would take part in the rallies as per schedule, which would be worked out soon.
Another leader said both rallies would culminate in Cuddalore on April 13, where a grand public meeting would be held. Subsequently, the leaders are likely to meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit and submit a memorandum, he added.Replying to a question on the demand made by a few organisations to halt the IPL matches scheduled here, Stalin said he was not against holding the matches, yet the organisers must act by taking into account the issues of the people.Referring to the cases the police registered against him and other leaders in connection with the rally on the day of bandh, he said he was ready to face any case for fighting for the State’s rights over the Cauvery waters.
Stalin greets lone woman who stopped bus on bandh day
Chennai: DMK working president M K Stalin on Friday personally greeted an elderly woman party worker Deivanayagi from Vellore, who stopped a bus during the bandh called by the opposition parties on Thursday over the Cauvery issue. She was invited to the party headquarters, where Stalin complimented her. A video footage of the woman holding the party flag, walking on the road and stopping a bus went viral on social media. News channels carried the footage.