Sources from Chennai have stated that the call for a dawn to dusk shutdown of commercial establishments to demand Tamilnadu’s rightful share of Cauvery river water, which was given by the traders’ associations and backed by the opposition parties, has received an overwhelming response on Friday.
It was stated that while State transport corporations, including the Metropolitan Transport Corporation in Chennai, did not suspend operations, mobility of people was limited as many avoided long distance trips.
Sources have added that the day has passed off without major untoward incidents though there was tension in parts of Mannargudi in Thanjavur district following the news of the death of Naam Tamizhar Katchi worker Vignesh, who had attempted self-immolation at a rally in Chennai on Thursday.
Meanwhile thousands of political and agricultural activists, including Leader of the Opposition and DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, was courted arrest after attempting to picket trains or block roads in various parts of the State, condemning the recent violence unleashed on a section of Tamils in Karnataka.
