'Go back Modi', cry reigns high, black flag stir across TN

Chennai: A slew of black flag protests and release of black balloons across Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery issue marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's one day visit on Thursday.

He was here to inaugurate the Defence Expo at Thiruvidanthai, 40 kms from the city, and to open the Diamond Jubilee Building of Cancer Institute at Chennai.

Police had made elaborate security arrangements to ensure Modi's programmes went undisrupted.

The Prime Minister used chopper to reach the Defexpo venue and briefly took the road route to attend the cancer institute event.

As Modi's convoy passed through the sprawling IIT Madras campus on the way to institute, some in the crowd briefly raised placards against the Central government on the Cauvery issue.

Be it black flag , balloon with slogan saying "Go Back Modi or the hashtag #GoBackModil in Twitter, they highlighted the mood of the protestors of various parties including DMK.

Besides in Chennai, black flags were also hoisted atop the residences of several farmers and DMK workers in parts of the state including Coimbatore, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Karur and Ramanathapuram.

They were hoisted at the residences of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, party working president M K Stalin, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and other leaders.

Cadres of CPI and CPI (M) also took part in the DMK led demonstrations to protest against Modi's visit over the Centre's "inaction" to form the Cauvery Management Board.

The wheel-chair bound nonagenarian Karunanidhi sported a black shirt in lieu of his usual white at his residence.

Similarly, Stalin, his sister Kanimozhi and second rung leaders including former Chennai Mayor Subramanian sported black attire.

Ahead of Modi's arrival at the airport here around 9 am, protestors began congregating at several locations in groups in its vicinity.

Veteran film director Bharathiraja and film-maker Ameer were among those who held demonstrations near the airport, raising slogans against Modi on the Cauvery issue over which the state has been witnessing protests for the past many days. Besides the DMK's black flag protest, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi led by T Velmurugan and volunteers of the Tamizhar Vazhvuirimai Kootamaippu (TVK), an umbrella body of Tamil outfits, also held demonstrations near the airport.

Besides, black balloons were also released by them.

About ten volunteers of TVK climbed atop a giant billboard in the airport's vicinity as part of the protest.

Erode (TN): A 25-year-old man set himself ablaze here on Thursday allegedly over the Central and state governments' "inaction" on the Cauvery issue, police said.

Dharmalingam has sustained 90 per cent burn injuries and he has been admitted to the Erode Government Hospital, where his condition is critical, police and doctors said.

Police said the man was said to be in a disturbed state of mind for the past couple of days.

The man's self-immolation bid comes on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the state to formally inaugurate the country's mega defence exhibition, Defexpo, at Thiruvidanthai.

"Cauvery water is the lifeline for the people of Tamil Nadu. Yet, Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi have not take any action to form a Cauvery Management Board. Also, I oppose Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu," reads a message on the wall of his house.

He poured kerosene and set himself ablaze, police said. Doctors said the man has sustained 90 per cent burns and his condition is critical. The state has been witnessing protests by political parties, pro-Tamil outfits, voluntary organisations and student groups Since April 1, seeking setting up of a Cauvery Management Board.

Erode: Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran on Thursday flayed the central and state governments for their alleged inaction over the Cauvery issue.

He was participating in a demonstration demanding setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) here.

The RK Nagar MLA hit out at chief minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and alleged that they had betrayed people of Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue.

Dhinakaran said he would stage demonstrations in Karur, Namakkal, Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur to pressure the Centre to set up the CMB.