Public transport will keep off the roads too.
Tamil Nadu is bracing for a dawn-to-dusk bandh supported by Opposition parties on Friday on the Cauvery with police deploying thousands of personnel across the state to ensure peace even as a youth set himself on fire in Chennai on Thursday over the water sharing row. The bandh call given by several farmers and traders bodies, including Tamil Nadu All Farmers' Federations and Tamil Nadu Vanigar
Sangangalin Peramaippu (a traders' collective) is supported by main Opposition party DMK, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, MDMK, PMK, TMC, CPI(M), and CPI. Protesters have also called for rail and road 'rokos'. Primarily to protest the violence targeted against the Tamils in Karnataka, the bandh is also aimed at seeking Cauvery water for the state and a final solution to the problem. Ruling AIADMK and trade unions affiliated to it have been non-committal on their participation in the bandh.
Man sets himself on fire in Chennai
While sporadic demonstrations were held today too, a 24-year-old man set himself on fire at a rally held by Nam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) here for "retrieving Tamil Nadu's rights in Cauvery," and to condemn attacks on the Tamils in Karnataka.
An official of the Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital, where he has been admitted, told PTI the "man has sustained 93 per cent burns, his chances of survival are dim." "It is a painful act. We do not support it. No one should do such a thing," NTK leader Seeman said.
Before he set himself afire, he threw pamphlets urging people to fight for rights of Tamil Nadu people on Cauvery and other issues. Blaming the Centre on Cauvery, unidentified persons pelted stones at an office of Indian Oil Corporation Limited and some glass panes were damaged, police said.
PTI
Security tightened in Chennai
Thousands of police personnel, including armed reserves will be deployed in Chennai and other parts of the state. Over 15,000 police personnel will be on duty. Protection was being provided to Karnataka-related business establishments, schools, institutions and areas where Kannada speaking people live, including Krishnagiri district.
Commercial firms, including over 35,000 jewellery and fuel outlets are expected to remain closed. However 'Company Owned and Company Operated Fuel Outlets' of Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Indian Oil will operate, officials said.
State-run transport corporations' run buses besides Chennai-specific local and MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) trains, and metro rail will function as usual, authorities said. Similarly, state-aided and government schools are all set to work as usual. As regards private schools and colleges, only a section of them are participating in the bandh. Autos, taxis, trucks, private buses, commercial freight services, are, however, slated to keep off the roads.
In a joint statement, Tamil film industry representatives including producers, directors, actors, workmen, theatre owners, and small screen artistes said they will participate in the bandh. K R Nandakumar, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Nursery Primary Matriculation and CBSE (private) Schools Association, said circulars have been sent to 18,000 schools in the state about the body's decision to close down educational institutions on Friday on account of the bandh. The quarterly exams scheduled for tomorrow have been proposed to be conducted on Saturday, he told PTI.
V R Sounderrajan, Advisor, All Wholesale Traders' Association at the Koyambedu market in Chennai, said thousands of vegetable vendors and related workers would participate in the bandh by staying away from work. Tamil Nadu Milk Agents Welfare Association Founder and President, S A Ponnusamy said "Since over 75 lakh retail vendors and 1.5 lakh agents will be participating in the bandh, there will be a 50-60 per cent shortage in supply." Though it is a dawn-to-dusk bandh, vendors and agents will participate only between 9 AM and 5 PM by closing distribution centres and retail outlets, keeping in view needs of children, senior citizens and patients, he added.
In neighbouring union territory of Puducherry, more than 30 Tamil fringe outfits have announced a 12-hour bandh. DMK's local unit announced its support to the bandh while Puducherry Traders Federation said all business establishments will remain closed tomorrow.
".... All necessary steps have been taken to ensure that law and order does not face any setback," Puducherry Chief Secretary Manoj Parida said.
Madras HC dismisses PIL on Cauvery row
The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre to protect Tamils in Karnataka and Kerala.
A division bench of the court's Madurai bench comprising Justices S Nagamuthu Muralidharan, dismissed the PIL after the central government pleader Srimathy submitted that the Centre had already initiated steps and the situation in Karnataka was returning to normal and there was no problem in Kerala. Petitioner K K Ramesh, who runs an NGO, said the safety of Tamils in both states had become an issue in the recent past.
"While Tamils and their business establishments in Karnataka were attacked recently, owing to the Cauvery water dispute, PWD officials from Tamil Nadu were attacked by the Kerala Police, when they had visited the Parambikulam Dam site in Kerala on September 12," he submitted. "If such attacks continued then the integrity of the nation would be affected," the petitioner said and sought a direction to the Union government to take steps to protect Tamils in Kerala and Karnataka
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