Bandh call by TN Oppn evokes mixed response

Most of the shops and commercial establishments across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry remained shut on Tuesday following the bandh called by the DMK-led Opposition to express solidarity with the drought-hit farmers.

While the government offices functioned as usual with skeletal staff, the public transport remained largely unaffected. 

DMK working president MK Stalin, former union minister TR Baalu and several party men were detained in Tiruvarur when they tried to block traffic. In Chennai, farmers’ leader P Ayyakannu, who staged a protest in New Delhi for 41 days, and Congress state chief Thirunavukkarasu courted arrest after staging a road roko. The state secretaries of CPM and CPI, G Ramakrishnan, and R Mutharasan respectively, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, and Congress leader KV Thangabalu were also arrested for staging road roko.

Film fraternity and cinema halls too extended their support to the farmers’ cause and suspended their activities.

The day-long bandh was complete in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai and Tiruchirappalli which were severely hit by drought. All the shops remained shut while the buses and auto rickshaws did not ply.

The bandh was called by the all-party meeting convened by the DMK on April 16 to urge the Central and state governments to fulfil the demands of farmers and farm labourers which includes adequate relief and setting up of Cauvery Management Board.