Saturday, May 25, 2013

CPI (M) protest across Tamil Nadu against anti People policies of UPA


Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadre staged protests across Tamil Nadu on Friday against the economic policies of the Central Government as part of the national campaign. More than 50000 cadres courted arrest across the state. 
Party is of the view that Centre’s economic policies have led to high inflation, which was placing a huge burden on the economically weaker sections of the society.

The policies of economic liberalisation and globalisation followed by the government had led to a sharp spike in the prices of essential commodities and have also contributed to higher unemployment, both of which had hurt the common man. The party also condemned the Government for the succession of scams in various fields ranging from 3G allocation, coal, and procurement of helicopters for VVIPs besides appointment of railway jobs. The agitators also condemned the government for allow foreign direct investment in the retail sector. Thousands of retailers would be forced to close their shops if the large corporate houses entered the sector, they said.

Further, the cadre said that instead of spending Rs. 15,950 crore annually to safeguard the 665 lakh tonnes of rice stored in godowns across the country, the Government could adopt universal public distribution system rather than restricting the beneficiaries by dividing them to above and below poverty line categories. The CPI (M) also demanded changes in the Food Safety Act, which was currently under the consideration of the Central Government and the introduction of stringent legal provisions to protect women from harassment.
Pudukottai
In Pudukottai, party cadres picketed Union government offices in 13 centres.CPIM district secretary M. Chinnadurai. S. Rajasekaran, former MLA, led the agitation in Alangudi, and P. Shanmugam, CITU district president, led the agitation in Arimalam. CPI (M) cadres courted arrest in Pudupatti, Ponnamaravathi, Gandarvakottai, Iluppur, Viralimalai, Aranthangi, Avudaiyarkoil, Manamelkudi, and Keeranur in the district. 

Karur
In Karur district, the party picketed the post offices. G. Rathinavelu, former State committee member, led the agitation. K. Dorairaj, chairman of the State Control Commission of the party, led the agitation at Velayuthampalaiyam and K. Kandasamy, Karur district secretary of the party, in Kulithalai. Agitations were held in Thogamalai, Chinna Dharapuram, Krishnarayapuram, Tharagampatti, and Velayuthampalaiyam.

Ariyalur
In Ariyalur district, police took into preventive custody 265 cadre. Manivel, district secretary of the party, led the agitation in T. Pazhur. Similar agitations were held in Jayamkondam, Andimadam, and Senthurai towns. A total of 78 CPI(M) cadre were taken into custody from Perambalur and Kaikalathur. Jothiram, State committee member, led the agitation in Perambalur.

Thanjavur
Over 1,000 people were taken into preventive custody in Thanjavur. The agitations were led by State Council member Mohammed Ali at Thanjavur, Sami Nadarajan, District Council member at Orathanadu, G.Neelamegam, Thanjavur District Secretary of CPI(M), at Peravurani, Budalur, V. Jeevakumar, district committee member, at Budalur. Agitations were held in Papanasam, Kumbakonam, Pattukottai, Thiruvonam. 

Tiruvarur: 
584 cadre were arrested at Tiruvarur, Mannargudi, Thiruthuraipoondi, Kodavasal, Peralam, and Nannilam.

Salem
Cadres staged road blocks and agitations at 19 places across the district. The police removed the cadre when they blocked the road near BSNL office in Meyyanur. A total of 149 cadre, including 19 women, were removed in the city when they staged protests in front of the Post Office in Ayodhiyapattinam, BSNL office’s in Salem Town and at Pallapatti. Likewise, 631 cadre, including 165 women, were removed from 16 places across the district when they blocked the roads.

Puducherry
In Puducherry police took around 500 cadres into custody when they blocked the roads in 5 places including Lawspet, Bahour, Villianur and others. V. Perumal, territorial secretary of CPI (M), was among those arrested. As many as 50 women took part too.They didn’t forget to raise their protest against the power tariff hike in Puducherry.

Vellore
In Vellore, party’s State committee member P. Sundarrajan led the cadres in front of Head Post Office to stage a road blockade and got arrested. District Secretary A. Narayanan was among the 262 cadres (including 97 women) arrested while attempting to stage road rokos in eight places namely, Vellore, Tirupathur, Ambur, Gudiyatham, Arcot, Ranipet, Nemili and Vazhapanthal.

Tiruvannamalai
In Tiruvannamalai, party’s State secretariat member N. Gunasekaran led the cadres to the Golden Jubilee Memorial Pillar to stage a road roko. He got arrested. District Secretary M. Veerabadran was among the 486 cadres (including 140 women) arrested while attempting to stage road rokos in seven places including Tiruvannamalai, Cheyyar, Vandavasi, Arani, Polur, Kalasapakkam and Chengam.

Cudallore
K. Balakrishnan, MLA led the agittation in Cudallore district. 

Dindigul
Communisy Party of India (Marxist) cadre were taken into custody for blocking roads across the district. A total of 1,777 members of the CPM, including 461 women, were arrested when they held road blockades at 21 places in the district 

Addressing the gathering in front of the Head Post Office here, Dindigul MLA K.Balabarathi said the Centre should abandon the Direct Cash Transfer Scheme as it was a clandestine move to close down the public distribution system. Earlier, the CPI(M) cadre took out a rally from Periyar statue to the Head Post Office.

Theni
Road blockades were staged by CPM workers at eight places in Theni district, and 875 CPI(M) cadre were arrested. Presiding over the protest action, Periakulam MLA A.Lazar condemned the "anti-people policies" of the Central Government and its "failure" to prevent rising prices of essential commodities.


Ramanathapuram
Over 630 CPM workers, including 158 women, were arrested in Ramanathapuram district when they staged agitations in front of post offices and banks at 11 places on Friday. Police said CPI(M) district secretary A.Govindasamy, who led the protestors here, and the party’s State Committee member S.K.Ponnuthai in Paramakudi, were among the 639 arrested.

Sivaganga
A total of 566 members of the CPI(M), including 193 women, who staged protests in front of banks and other Central Government offices at 12 places in Sivaganga district, were arrested.

Tirunelveli
A total of 1,392 cadre, including 414 women, were arrested when they attempted to block traffic at 22 places in the district on Friday . In the protest organised at Tirunelveli Junction, the police arrested 148 protestors, including four women, while the Tirunelveli rural police detained 1,244 cadre, including 410 women, as they attempted to block traffic at 21 places in the district.


Tuticorin
A total of 1,350 cadre, including 650 women, of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) courted arrest in various parts of Tuticorin district on Friday when they blocked road.

Nagercoil
More than 1,000 CPI(M) cadre courted arrest when they tried to block roads at 28 places in different parts of Kanyakumari district. 


Erode
In Erode town, traffic was blocked at Panneerselvam park. Similar agitations were held at Perundurai, Bhavani, Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam, Thingalur, Sivagiri, Thalavadi, and Kadambur.
The police arrested more than 1,200 agitators.

Nilgiris
A total of 98 people owing allegiance to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were arrested for participating in a picketing demonstration near the Independence Square here on Friday. Among those arrested were 35 women. The demonstration, led by the CPI (M) State Executive Committee member N. Srinivasan. Among those who participated was the District Secretary, CPI (M) R. Badri and district executive committee member L. Thiagarajan. 52 persons were arrested in Gudalur and 75 persons including 18 women were held in Erumadu for participating in picketing demonstrations for the same demands.

Madurai
Hundreds of Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadre were arrested when they tried to stage protests in front of Central Government offices in Madurai District on Friday, The party had organised protests at 16 places in the district. CPI(M) Central Committee member P.Sampath, led the protest on Scott Road.

Namakkal
More than thousand CPI(M) cadres, including former MLA Nanmaran, were arrested in Namakkal district on Friday
, 1220 workers were arrested from 27 areas in Namakkal district.
 (Reports Courtesy : The Hindu, Photo Courtesy : Theekathir daily)