The Hindu : Front Page : Advocates in Madurai resort to rail roko

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Advocates in Madurai resort to rail roko

S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI: Members of the Madurai Bar Association (MBA) resorted to a rail roko here on Wednesday demanding implementation of Tamil as an official language in the High Court. Madurai MP, P. Mohan, also took part in the agitation.

Despite the presence of a strong posse of police personnel, the advocates marched into the railway station and sat on the tracks delaying the departure of the Guruvayur-Chennai Express by 15 minutes.

The Railway Police have referred this incident to the Thideer Nagar police for investigation. "We had given a memo to the local police to prevent the agitators from entering the railway station," the Divisional Security Commissioner, Railway protection Force, A.P. Babu Rao, said. The advocates raised slogans in support of their demand. "The Union Law Minister, H.R. Bhardwaj, has no right to reject the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking implementation of Tamil as official language in the High Court. It is the duty of the Centre to forward that resolution to the President for his assent," the MBA secretary, A.K. Ramasamy, said. The advocates who commenced an indefinite boycott of courts on March 13 on this issue threatened to block the runaway of the Madurai Airport if their demand was not implemented. Asked about the inconvenience caused to the public in road and rail blockades, Mr. Ramasamy argued that the agitations were "for the public and by the public." It was the people who "invited" the advocates to lead the agitation for a "genuine" cause. "A majority of people have supported us. Elected representatives are also taking part in our agitations. We are constantly informing the Government and the police about our agitation plan. There is no inconvenience to the public," he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page