COIMBATORE: Over 50 members of the Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam (MMI), led by its coordinator Eashwaran, were detained by city police on Monday after they staged a protest outside the income tax department's headquarters in Race Course, condemning the union government for 'rejecting' the Coimbatore Metro Rail project for the second time.
The protesters assembled in front of the I-T office carrying placards criticising the centre and demanding immediate approval of the long-pending Metro Rail project. Raising slogans, they claimed that Coimbatore, one of Tamil Nadu's fastest-growing industrial and educational hubs, urgently requires a metro rail system to tackle its increasing traffic congestion.
The demonstrators also accused the central government of neglecting infrastructure projects in TN while utilising tax revenues generated from the state for developmental works in northern states. They accused the BJP-led centre of repeatedly refusing to clear the Metro Rail project, stated that it reflected its discrimination against TN.
The cadre, during the demonstration, attempted to march towards I-T office. Police personnel, who had been deployed in large numbers anticipating the protest, erected barricades and prevented the group from proceeding further. A brief scuffle ensued as some protesters tried to breach the barricades.
Polcie subsequently detained Eashwaran and over 50 MMI functionaries and volunteers for participating in an unauthorised protest. They were taken away in police vehicles.
Security was tightened in and around the Race Course area to prevent any untoward incidents, while traffic movement in the vicinity was briefly affected.
Addressing reporters before his detention, Eashwaran said Coimbatore's rapid urban expansion had made the Metro Rail project an essential public transport requirement rather than a luxury. He alleged that the centre was deliberately delaying infrastructure projects crucial for TN's development and urged it to grant immediate approval for the project.
He also questioned the metro rail projects approved by the central government in Kochi, Agra, Lucknow and other smaller cities, which have a population way less than Coimbatore and slammed its 'partiality' towards Coimbatore and Tamil Nadu.
"The people of Coimbatore have been demanding the Metro Rail project for years. We will continue our democratic protests until the union government clears the proposal," he said.
