Cauvery dispute: Stalin detained as DMK calls for Tamil Nadu shutdown on April 5

CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin was detained on Sunday during an ongoing protest against Centre over the constitution of Cauvery Water Management. The party also decided to observe a shutdown across Tamil Nadu on April 5 over the Cauvery issue.

Seeking All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (AIADMK's) support, Stalin said, “DMK announces shutdown across the state on 5 April, we seek support from ruling AIADMK. We will show black flags to the Prime Minister and Union Minister when they visit. Will also take out Cauvery rights retrieval walk from the delta area.”

Visuals: DMK working president MK Stalin detained during protest against Centre over constitution of #CauveryWaterManagement in #Chennai pic.twitter.com/ffl3pO4kPv — ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2018

In an all-party meeting chaired by Stalin in Chennai on Sunday morning, the party further announced that a black flag demonstration march will be held during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu on April 15.

"It is clear that the Centre moved the court and adopted a vindictive attitude towards Tamil Nadu keeping the Karnataka polls in mind," he said after the Centre filed a clarification petition in the Supreme Court, asking for three months for implementing its judgment in view of the May elections in Karnataka.

Earlier, the Supreme Court gave a six-week deadline to the Centre to formulate the  Cauvery Management Board (CMB), which ended on Thursday. The Centre, in a clarification petition, sought more time and pleaded to modify the composition of CMB.

AIADMK-led state government has also called for a hunger strike on April 3. 

With agency inputs