Tamil Nadu's principal Opposition DMK and its allies like Congress and MDMK on Sunday gave a call for a day-long shutdown across the state on Thursday to condemn the Centre's inaction in constituting Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
Announcing the shutdown after chairing a meeting of like-minded parties, DMK working president M K Stalin and TNCC chief Su Thirunavukarasar among others held a flash protest in Valluvar Kottam in Nungambakkam with cadres even squatting on the busy road.
Immediately after announcing the fast, Stalin led the leaders and his own cadre to Valluvar Kottam and launched a flash protest.
With their protest affecting traffic, police asked Stalin and others to call off their protest.
When they refused to put off their agitation, police took them into custody. "Police can arrest us, but they cannot stop us from protesting against Centre. Tamil Nadu has been punished by the Centre despite Supreme Court clearly asking the Centre to constitute CMB," Stalin told reporters.
The Opposition leader also announced that they will undertake Cauvery Rights Retrieval walk from the Delta region. However, he did not specify when and where the march would begin. The DMK's flash protest comes two days after the ruling AIADMK is to hold a day-long fast with the same demand.
Stalin also appealed to the public to participate in the day-long shutdown.