Friday shutdown to hit normal life in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Normal life is likely to be hit in Tamil Nadu on Friday due to a general strike called to demand Cauvery water from Karnataka and to protest against attacks on Tamils there.

Private milk and petrol distributors, auto-rickshaw and omni bus drivers, traders and others have announced their participation in the shut down.

Barring the ruling AIADMK, which is silent on extending support to the strike, all major political parties have extended support to the strike.

Most private schools have declared a holiday on Friday.

Around 4,500 privately-owned fuel outlets would be closed from morning till evening on Friday.

But all company-owned, company-operated fuel outlets of Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum would be open on Friday, said U.V. Mannur, state-level co-ordinator for Oil Industry and Executive Director Indian Oil.

Many shops are likely to remain closed on Friday as members of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders Association are also taking part in the shutdown.

Vegetable wholesale markets are also likely to remain closed.

DMDK founder A. Vijaykant will launch a hunger strike with his party colleagues here.

Police said they were taking steps to prevent untoward incidents. Additional security will be provided to organisations owned by Kannadigas.