Normal life came to a standstill as various political parties and associations backed the bandh called by the Cauvery Delta Protection Movement.
Nearly 2 lakh shops were closed in the delta region demanding Cauvery Water
Nearly two lakh industries, shops, and other commercial establishments in eight districts in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery Delta region remained closed in response to a dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the Cauvery Delta Protection Movement on Wednesday, 11 October.
The shutdown was called in protest against Karnataka not following the Supreme Court directive on releasing water from the Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu.
The bandh totally affected normal life in the Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Cuddalore, and Mayiladuthurai districts
It had the backing of the ruling DMK and its allies, including the Congress, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Left parties, and their affiliated trade unions and traders associations.
Supply of essential commodities — barring milk and medicines — was affected. Cinema halls remained closed as the theatre associations also extended support to the bandh.
The movement of goods came to a standstill as the State Lorry Owners Federation backed the bandh. However, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) operated schedules in fewer numbers.
Adequate police personnel were deployed in all the delta districts, including at railway stations.
Nearly 40,000 shops downed shutters in Thanjavur district.
Farmers’ associations held pickets before Union government offices in all the districts.
In Tanjavur, nearly 10,000 farmers and political workers took out a rally from the old bus stand, raising slogans against the BJP government at the Centre, and the Cauvery Water Management Authority, demanding an order to Karnataka to release water. Later the rally picketed the Divisional office of LIC on Gandhiji Road.
A huge number of farmers laid siege to India Post’s main branch near the old bus stand road.
The police arrested PS Masilamani, General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association, who led the protest. They were being housed in wedding halls.
Speaking to South First, Masilamani said that around 2 lakh acres of kuruvai crops had withered due to lack of water. He condemned the Karnataka government for failing to release the Cauvery water.
The Supreme Court had upheld the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s order to release 5,000 cusecs of river water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from 18 September.
May 20, 2024
![[Left] File photo of BJP MLA Harish Poonja, who has been booked, and [right] Poonja sitting for a protest in front of Belthangady Police Station in the early hours of Sunday, 19 May, 2024.](https://s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media.thesouthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Harish-Poonja-and-Belthangady.jpg "Harish Poonja and Belthangady")
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