Tamil Nadu will witness its first bandh over the Cauvery issue on Friday, after various trade organisations and farmers’ associations called for a state-wide shutdown against violence targeting Tamils in Karnataka and seeking a permanent solution to the dispute.
PR Pandian, President of Cauvery Delta All Farmers Association’s Coordination Committee said a protest will be held at Egmore station in Chennai on Friday. "We are protesting against the violence that happened in Karnataka, and demand that adequate compensation be given to the affected vendors and a permanent solution to the Cauvery issue," he said.
While the ruling AIADMK will not lend support to the bandh call, opposition parties including the DMK, Congress, Left parities, PMK, DMDK, MDMK, VCK, and TMC have extended their support to the 12-hour shutdown beginning at 6am on Friday.
Services likely to be hit:
4600 petrol bunks will be shut. Haider Ali, Secretary of Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association said, “Banners have been put up across petrol bunks informing customers about Friday’s bandh and asking them to fill up fuel in advance.” However, UV Mannur, State level Co-ordinator for Oil Industry and Executive Director (Indian Oil) has highlighted that “Company Owned Company Operated Fuel Outlets (COCO’s) of all three Oil Companies – Indian Oil, HPC and BPC would be opened on Friday for the benefit of the public”. The list of bunks open is available here.
Vegetable markets will be closed with wholesale fruit and vegetable markets across the state lending support to the bandh call.
11 lakh lorries to stay off the roads, reported The New Indian Express.
20 lakh shops across the state will remain shut with traders’ organisation supporting the call, reported TNIE.
Milk supply to be hit. "We are participating in the protest and will not be providing milk in all the districts tomorrow morning. We will be providing milk tomorrow evening," said Senguttuvan, Milk Association President.
Private interstate buses will stay off roads. "All private omni interstate buses are closing from 6am to 6pm in the evening which includes all private operators like KPN, SRM etc," said Anbalagan, Secretary, Omni Bus Operators association of India. 45 buses belonging to Tamil Nadu-based private operator KPN was set on fire at its depot in Bengaluru by a mob of around 200 people on Monday.
Private schools to declare a holiday on Friday. "All the private schools will be shut tomorrow. No petrol bunks and private school vans are also not working tomorrow so we cannot conduct classes. The children will be having classes on Saturday," said KR Nandakumar, General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Nursery Primary Matriculation and CBSE (private) Schools Association. However, government schools will function tomorrow, confirmed the Department of School Education.
Train services could be partially affected with VCK chief Thirumavalavan leading a rail roko on Friday.
Film theatres across the state will also cancel shows between 6am and 6pm, stated Abirama Ramanatham, President of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association.
Services to stay open:
With the state government not lending support, MTC buses in Chennai and other cities are expected to ply on Friday. State-run TNTC buses will operate as usual.
Suburban train services and metro rail services in Chennai will also operate.
Auto-rickshaws and cabs may be partially affected as petrol bunks will remain closed.
Hotels and restaurants will stay open. Venkadasubbu, President, Tamil Nadu Hotel Association confirmed that the association hadn’t lent support to the bandh call.
Banks to remain open. CH Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) said, "All banks will be working tomorrow. We are not joining the protest but if some unexpected issue comes up then we have to shut."