DMK, other parties call for bandh on April 5 in Tamil Nadu to protest against Centre on Cauvery issue

CHENNAI: Stepping up the chorus for setting up Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) to implement the final award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the opposition parties on Sunday called for a one-day bandh in Tamil Nadu on April 5.

The decision to observe the bandh was taken at a meeting of the opposition parties, chaired by DMK working president and Leader of Opposition MK Stalin here in the morning.

"In order to condemn the (Centre's) failure to constitute Cauvery Management Board and seeking three months time and press for the demand for setting up the board, It is decided to observe a one-day statewide bandh on April 5," a resolution unanimously adopted at the meeting declared.

Top political leaders, including S Thirunavukkarasar (Cong.), Thol. Thirumavalavan (VCK), K Balakrishnan (CPM), R Mutharasan (CPI) and K Veeramani (DK), participated at the meeting which strongly condemned the Centre for failing to constitute CMB by honouring the Supreme Court's verdict.

Stalin informed that road roko and rail roko would also be held on the day of the bandh.

The opposition leaders have also decided to launch a march, Cauvery Rights Retrieval March, for formation of the CMB from Cauvery delta region to the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

Flash stir-leaders arrested

Meanwhile, a battery of opposition leaders led by Stalin staged a flash demonstration at Valluvarkottam in Chennai demanding setting up of CMB. After holding demonstration, the leaders resorted to road roko before courting arrest. The leaders, Stalin, S Thirunavukkarasar, Thol. Thirumavalavan, K Balakrishnan and R Mutharasan are being detained at hall in The Nagar.

Traffic was disrupted in and around Valluvarkottam as a large number of cadre from the opposition parties gathered at the venue of the stir.