Cops bar CPI(M) leaders from meeting ryots against powerlines

CPI(M) Tamil Nadu secretary G Balakrishnan and senior leaders of the party were Friday stopped from meeting farmers agitating near here against the installation of high-power lines in their fields, leading to a protest by over 100 party workers against the police.

Balakrishnan, along with former MP P R Natarajan and former MLA K C Karunakaran, had reached the venue to meet the farmers, who are on hunger strike, to extend solidarity with them.

But, the police prevented them from going to the stage.

However, the workers accompanying Balakrishnan raised slogans against the police, leading to heated arguments.

In the melee, Balakrishnan and others reached the venue and discussed the issue with the farmers.

Later talking to reporters, Balakrishnan said the state government should not indulge in such tactics of preventing political leaders from meeting the ryots.

Stating that the powerlines were laid through underground cables across the world including in Chennai, he said the government, instead of terrorising the farmers, should take steps to protect them and their land.