Farmers and opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Monday staged rail roko agitation at various places in the state demanding the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board immediately.
The protests were held against the stance of BJP-led Union government in the Supreme Court which opposed immediate setting up of the Board.
Thousands of protestors participated in the rail roko demonstrations, who courted arrest and were lodged in the community and marriage halls, police said.
The agitations marked the beginning of a 48-hour rail blockade by farmers outfits which has the support of opposition parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamil Nadu Congress, IUML, Communist Party of India-Marxist, CPI, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
Farmer leader and chief of National South Indian Rivers Inter-Linking Farmers Association P Ayyakannu led the protest in Tiruchirappalli by squatting over the railway track in Kudamuratti bridge area.
Ryots squatted on railway tracks with green turbans and planted paddy seedlings in the narrow gap between railway tracks. They managed to block trains briefly but were removed later by police.
"We will continue our stir. Tomorrow too this will be held. We plan to block Vaigai Super Fast Express. We urge the Centre to not make us paupers, (by adopting a stance against CMB)" Ayyakannu said.
Similar protests witnessed huge participation of people in the entire Cauvery Delta region of the state, including Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts.
DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin led the protest at Perambur suburban railway station in Chennai in which scores of his party legislators and functionaries took part.
Leading the protestors, he blocked a suburban train, following which he along with party cadres was taken away by police from the railway station.
MDMK chief Vaiko and CPI(M) State Secretary G Ramakrishnan squatted on railway track at the busy Chennai Central Railway station. Similarly, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan participated in a rail roko stir in Tiruvarur district.
Vaiko told media persons that the stir was to protect the rights of Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue. Blaming the BJP regime at the Centre for having a "hidden agenda," to "support Karnataka," he said, it was being done for "political edge."
Former Chennai Mayor and DMK legislator Ma Subramanaian (Saidapet), senior DMK leader Duraimurugan (Vellore Dt), former Union Minister TR Baalu (Tambaram), former State Ministers including EV Velu (Tiruvannamalai), K Ponmudi (Villupuram), and KN Nehru (Tiruchirappalli), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavlavan (Basin Bridge) led rail roko demonstrations as well.
"Central government should come forward to withdraw their stand in Supreme Court against setting up CMB," Thirumavalavan said.
In some places, including Madurai and Cuddalore, police resorted to baton-charge to disperse a section of farmers and party workers who insisted on blocking train traffic.
Veteran CPI leader Nallakannu was detained at Virudhunagar near Madurai along with 300 others for blocking train.
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