Rail traffic thrown out of gear in TN, opposition leaders’ court arrest

17 October, Chennai

Rail traffic was thrown out of gear in Tamil Nadu Monday as hundreds of thousands of farmers and activists of various political parties blocked trains as part of the 48-hour rail roko agitation call given by Joint Movement of Farmers’ Association, demanding the Centre to constitute Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

Leaders of various political parties and farmers’ associations courted arrest at various railway stations across the state.

Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu State Assembly and DMK Treasurer M.K.Stalin and scores of party men were arrested, when they attempted to stage rail roko agitation at Perambur railway station. Earlier, they took out a massive procession shouting slogans against the Centre for betraying the interests of people and farming community of the state on the Cauvery issue.

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and CPI (M) State Secretary G.Ramakrishnan among hundreds of activists of Peoples’ Welfare Front squatted on the railway tracks at Chennai Central Railway Station and blocked the superfast Mangalore express.

Viruthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Founder Thol.Thirumavalavan and his party men were arrested for attempting to block rail services near Basin Bridge at Chennai.

Former DMK Ministers K.N.Nehru, K.Ponmudi, E.V.Velu, Durai Murugan were courted arrest for attempting to block train services at Srirangam, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Katpadi railway stations, respectively. Former Chennai city Corporation Mayor M.Subramaniam, MLA was also arrested for resorting to rail roko at Saidapet railway station in Chennai.