Tiruchirapalli, Mar 24: The CPI joining hands with CPI(M) launches statewide stir in Tamil Nadu demanding immediate withdrawal of power tariff hike in the state. Talking to reporters, state CPI secretary R Nallakannu said that the hike was a hard burden on the people of Tamil Nadu who were already under the grip of unprecedented drought, and adding to the woes were severe summer on the cards and withdrawal of free power to the farmers. Meanwhile, in a joint statement in Chennai, Nallakkannu and CPI(M) state secretary N Varadarajan said the hike was the first step towards privatisation of the power sector and this was being done under pressure from the international funding agencies like the world bank. Bureau Report