The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Thanjavur News : Farmers, CPI workers try to picket Govt offices, arrested

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Tuesday, Jun 21, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Thanjavur

Farmers, CPI workers try to picket Govt offices, arrested

Tamil Nadu Bureau

Implementation of Kolappan panel recommendations sought

UNITED DEMAND: CPI cadres staging a demonstration at Thanjavur on Monday.

THANJAVUR: Nearly 1,500 members of Thamizhaga Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam and Communist Party of India (CPI), were arrested by the police from eight centres in the district today, when they tried to picket the taluk offices demanding implementation of the recommendations of Kolappan committee.

At Thanjavur, the agitation was led by G. Krishnan, district president of CPI.

When the members started moving from the old bus stand to picket before the Panagal building, they were stopped and arrested by the police. They squatted on the road and shouted slogans.

They also demanded revival of the Agriculture Labourers Welfare Board and release of water from Mettur dam for Kuruvai cultivation.

Besides Thanjavur, picketing was held at Kumbakonam, Papanasam, Thiruvonam, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Pattukottai, Orathanadu and Peravurani.

Tiruvarur

In Tiruvarur district, the agitation was held at six places - Tiruvarur, Nannilam, Kodavasal, Thiruthuraipoondi, Mannargudi and Needamangalam.

Police arrested the members led by V. Selvaraj, Chairman of Tiruvarur District Panchayat council, when they tried to picket before the Revenue Divisional Office, demonstrations were held at other places.

While Sivapunniyam, MLA, led the demonstration at Mannargudi, G. Palanisamy, MLA, led the agitation at Thiruthuraipoondi.

Nagapattinam

Nearly 750 agricultural workers and CPI cadres including 250 women belonging to the Tamizhaga Vivasaya Thozhilalargal Sangam (affiliated to CPI) were arrested by police on Monday for picketing in front of the taluk and revenue divisional offices in the district.

In Nagapattinam, M. Selvaraj, former MP, and hundreds of members were arrested when they picketed the taluk and RDO offices demanding among other things implementation of Kolappan committee recommendations and effective functioning of the welfare board for unorganised labourers.

A large number of members also staged demonstration in front of the taluk offices at Mayiladuturai, Tharangampadi, Sirkazhi, Keevalur, Tirukkuvalai and Vedaranyam.

Police sources said that all of them were released in the evening.

Pudukottai

A large number of agricultural workers were arrested in various places in the district after they attempted to stage a picketing agitation demanding implementation of the recommendations of Kolappan Committee.

The workers also demanded the State Government to revive the welfare board for farm workers.

They also urged the Central and State governments to ensure that Tamil Nadu got its due share of Cauvery water.

Police said that over 400 farm workers, including 107 women, were held at Pudukottai, Keeranur, Aranthangi, Alangudi, Thirumayam, Avudaiyarkoil, Illupur, Manamelkudi and Gandarvakottai.

Perambalur

In Perambalur district, a total of 96 farm workers led by Jayaraman, district organiser of the Tamil Maanila Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam, were arrested at Jayamkondam when they assembled in the town to indulge in a picketing agitation.

Kulithalai

Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam affiliated to the Bharathiya Kisan Mazdoor Union on Monday a staged a demonstration here to demand the implementation of the Kolappan Committee recommendations on minimum wages, activation of welfare board for farm workers as also ensuring continuous discharge of water for irrigation purposes in the Cauvery for the coming samba season and release of adequate water into Kattalai High Level Channel and the Uyyakondan Channel among other things.

The Bharathiya Kisan Mazdoor Union district deputy secretary, Selvam, led the demonstration in which around 60 people including 15 women participated.

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Farmers, CPI workers try to picket Govt offices, arrested