Protests broke out in parts of Chennai following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the city
Bangalore, March 12, 2018: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Chennai, was welcomed with black balloons and black flags asking him to go back following the Central Government’s inaction to set up the Cauvery Management Board.
While Chennai residents took to the streets, ‘Go Back Modi’ was trending on Twitter. PM Modi, who inaugurated the DefExpo 2018 and a diamond jubilee building in Adyar’s Cancer Institute, is reportedly taking the helicopter to commute within the city, to avoid roads for security reasons.
We the people of Tamilnadu must hold our hands together against Modi-ji. Central Government is killing our farmers for their vote bank politics. We must stand against this and support our farmers for the formation of #CauveryWaterManagementBoard #GoBackModi #GoBackCulpritModi
— Gopal Perumal (@GopalPerumal4) April 12, 2018
However, Karnataka Irrigation Minister, M.B.Patil told The Softcopy that the formation of a board was unacceptable.
Traffic in the city was diverted because of the Prime Minister’s visit. Siva Kumar, a resident of Chennai told The Softcopy, “There are protests in every area of the city by one or the other political organization. I was coming from Anna Salai to Chrompet by car. The traffic was terrible, especially near Little Mount. Almost all roads leading to the airport were blocked to keep the protesters away.”
Protesters were reportedly also arrested in parts of the city. Political parties were quick to react. They condemned the Prime Minister’s reaction and demanded the formation of the Board.
Have travelled world over,never seen anything like this for a PM or a President.Roads blocked,jammers all over..no roads are leading to the airport..is #Modi the only citizen of this country?From santhome to tidel park to velachery to alandur to don't know damn where #GoBackModi
— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) April 12, 2018
Popular Tamil actor, Kamal Haasan, who recently made his political debut, also wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister. He said, “All sections of people of Tamil Nadu have started to believe that this delay is due to ensuing elections in Karnataka and your party’s interests in it. Sir, it is your duty, as the Prime Minister of our country, to prove this wrong by immediately acting as per the Supreme Court order.”
Avoided roads, demolished a wall to evade protesters, preferred chopper travel & what not…finally 15 students of #IITMadras showed #PMModi what he didn't want to see. The reality is : TN is angry. #CauveryManagementBoard #CauveryIssue #CauveryProtests #GoBackModi #ModiinChennai pic.twitter.com/Cz1btADh8H
— Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) April 12, 2018
With inputs from: Madhuvanthi Srinivasan, Shree Nithya and Manashaa G