Actor-director Gowthaman and 100 other people were arrested on Thursday in Chennai for blocking traffic along the Kathipara flyover at Guindy. They had come out in support of drought-affected farmers from the state who are currently protesting in New Delhi for the Central government to give an assistance of Rs 4,000 crore instead of the earlier announced figure of Rs 2,000 crore.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court took Tamil Nadu to task on its replies to the apex court on the matter of farmer suicide in the drought-affected state, and asked it to file a detailed reply on the issue.
SC raps Tamil Nadu
The Supreme Court on Thurday, while hearing a petition filed for remedial measures for TN farmers, pulled up the state government over measures it has — and more importantly has not — taken to alleviate their suffering. The apex court also asked the TN government to submit a detailed reply in this regard.
The court also said that it was "'painful to hear [that] farmers are committing suicide and the state government is not taking enough steps [to stop them from ending their life]."
Traffic muddle in Chennai
Meanwhile, actor and filmmaker Gowthaman — best known for his work on TV serials based on the lives of serial killer Auto Shankar and jungle brigand Veerapan — was arrested by the police on Thursday morning after he, accompanied by around 100 protesters, blocked traffic along the Kathipara flyover at Guindy in Chennai.
Gowthaman and the protesters blocked the flyover with an iron chain, leading to a traffic snarl because vehicles going over the flyover towards Vadapalani and Anna Salai were stuck. The traffic jam extended over a 3-km stretch of the road, leading the police to intervene.
The cops initially tried to reason with the protesters, but they were adamant and refused to budge. That is when the policemen decided to take stricter measures: They arrested Gowthaman along with the 100-odd protesters accompanying him. Traffic took a little time to return to normal along the Kathipara flyover.
