The Nadigar Sangam came out on Sunday, 8 April, to support the two most burning issues in Tamil Nadu right now. Holding a silent protest at Chennai’s Valluvar Kottam, the actors and other artistes who were gathered wanted to put pressure on the Central government to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, and also supported the agitation against the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi.
The protest, observed from 9am to 1pm, saw many actors in attendance, including Vijay, Dhanush, Surya, Vivek, Siva Karthikeyan, Makkal Needhi Maiam Kamal Haasan, Rajnikanth and several Nadigar Sangam functionaries such as its president Nasser and general secretary Vishal.
Rajnikanth, addressing the media outside his residence at Poes Garden, spoke on the demand for the constitution of a CMB, and supported the agitation against Sterlite.
The Centre will be responsible for the anger of the people of Tamil Nadu if the board is not formed as ordered by the Supreme Court.Rajnikanth, actor-turned-politician
On February 16, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on the Cauvery water sharing dispute, which reduced Tamil Nadu’s share of water. But it also directed the Centre to “frame a scheme” so as to implement its orders within six weeks. The deadline to set up the CMB was 29 March. As the Centre did not constitute the board, a one-day bandh was held on 5 April demanding the formation of the board.
A full-day agitation was held in Thoothukudi against the Sterlite plant in the district. The protesters demanded that the expansion plans of the Sterlite copper plant in the district should be stopped and the plant itself should be shut down.
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