Enthusiastic efforts for 'Marina 2.0' to support farmers, cops go on high alert at the beach

People were being asked online to congregate at the Marina on Wednesday morning to support farmers hit by crop failure.

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Policemen and senior officials of the police department arrived at the Marina beach on Tuesday afternoon to prevent any gatherings at the beach after several tweets with the hashtag ‘Marina 2.0’ began gaining traction on social media.

The hashtag was reportedly in reference to a proposed a stir at the beach in support of farmers protesting in New Delhi and to agitate against the Neduvasal hydrocarbon project. Users online were calling supporters to congregate at the Marina on Wednesday morning to support the farmers hit by crop failure and upset over the Centre's Rs. 2000 crore response to Tamil Nadu's demand for assistance of Rs. 39000 crore.

This was also to express public outrage against the Neduvasal project which the Centre is proceeding with, despite farmers' protests.

#Marina2.0 is going to be bigger and better.
SAVE NEDUVASAL DOWN DOWN MODI
— Yadhu De Hosure (@DeHosure) March 28, 2017

#marina2.0 India is going to witness another Big protest in marina beach , and it's time for farmers
— subash vanchinathan (@msvanchinathan) March 28, 2017

Let us once again join hands with our #TNYoungsters tomorrow on Marina2.0 at 8am. #SaveFarmers #SaveNeduvasal
— Manoj Kumar (@VijayRasiganMK) March 28, 2017

According to Times of India, policemen on the beach picked up Rajapandian (31) of Tiruvallur, Manikandan (28) of Trichy and Samuthradevi (35) and Leo Nelson (32) from Chennai. While Rajapandian and Manikandan claimed to be at the beach to participate in the protests, others said they had come on a casual visit. Police reportedly allowed the four men to leave after questioning them.

Mylapore Deputy Commissioner V Balakrishnan, however told ToI, "We will take legal action against those who spread rumours [like #Marina2.0]."

One of the admins of a Facebook group that had been actively involved in the jallikattu movement told TNM that multiple efforts were being made to organise Marina 2.0. "There is no clarity who the organiser is. Memes and videos keep popping up asking people to gather at Marina at 8.00 am. But, there is no momentum," he said.

The police action comes on the back of the Marina uprising earlier this year, when thousands of youngsters gathered at the Marina beach in Chennai and other parts of the state to remove the ban on jallikattu. Having struggled to diffuse the agitation then, the police department is preempting protests.

The police department had come under severe criticism for the strong arm tactics they employed to disperse crowds after an ordinance allowing jallikattu was signed by the Governor.

Several farmers have been protesting in Delhi for the past few days, holding skulls of dead farmers, demanding proper compensation for their crop loss due to drought in Tamil Nadu this year. Tamil Nadu is witnessing one of its worst droughts ever.

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Enthusiastic efforts for 'Marina 2.0' to support farmers, cops go on high alert at the beach

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