Protests erupted in various parts of Chennai as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the city on Thursday morning to inaugurate Defence Expo India 2018, a four-day exhibition showcasing the country’s latest weapons and defence manufacturing capabilities.
Protesters belonging to various political outfits such as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Tamizhaga Vazhvumurai Katchi and all pro-Tamil groups, demanded that the prime minister return to Delhi as the centre had not yet constituted the Cauvery Management Board, as per the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
In its order on February 16, the court stated that the Centre must form a board to oversee the sharing of river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu within six weeks. The deadline for this was March 29. In view of the Karnataka Assembly elections on May 12, the Centre had asked the Supreme court for an extension of the deadline till after the elections. But on Monday, the court refused to agree to this and directed that the Centre submit a draft scheme by May 3.
Wearing black T-shirts and waving black flags, protestors blocked traffic on the roads leading up to the Chennai International airport in Guindy of south-west Chennai. Some protesters even climbed up the walls of the airport to wave black flags at the prime minister. Black balloons were also released by the protesters at the airport.
சென்னையில் திமுக எம்.எல்.ஏ மா. சுப்பிரமணியன் இல்லத்தில் ராட்சத கருப்பு பலூன் பறக்கவிடப்பட்டது
— PuthiyathalaimuraiTV (@PTTVOnlineNews) April 12, 2018
MODI GO BACK என்ற வாசகம் அடங்கிய பலூனை பறக்கவிட்டு பிரதமருக்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்தனர் #NarendraModi pic.twitter.com/iH9dub7MyC
History Repeats
— Social Smuggler (@thenone4u) April 12, 2018
Before : Simon Go Back
Now : #ModiGoBack #GoBackModi #APDemandsSpecialStatus #BJPCheatedAp #BJPA pic.twitter.com/eveW48wKus
#ChennaiAirport route blocked #CauveryProtest #CauveryIssue #CauveryManagementBoard #ModiInChennai #ModiGoBack pic.twitter.com/qMm6xbnvc1
— Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) April 12, 2018
Opposition to Prime Minister's visit: Various organizations demonstrated the black flag, blocking the Chennai airport.
— Jenifer Lionel ♥ (@JeniferLionel) April 12, 2018
Look at the picture....#GoBackModi #CauveryIssue #CauveryProtest #CauveryManagementBoard pic.twitter.com/JcxPLCvKfo
A rough start of #Thursday morning in #TamilNadu
— All Bout (@AllBout_AB) April 12, 2018
Political parties and pro Tamil groups will be protesting against PM Modi’s visit to Chennai.#GoBackModi #CauveryIssues #CauveryManagementBoard pic.twitter.com/S7jyTVL7cQ
Amid tight security, the prime minister travelled by helicopter from the airport to Mahabalipuram in Kancheepuram district, from where he reached the exhibition venue in Thiruvidanthai by road at around 10:15 am. Three-tier security had been arranged at the airport, and at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and at the Cancer Institute Adyar, where Modi would visit after the exhibition, reported The New Indian Express.
Meanwhile, since Thursday morning, the hashtag #GoBackModi has broken the internet, as social media users have been voicing their anger at the centre’s reluctance to form the Cauvery Management Board immediately.
Exclusive pictures (leaked) from @narendramodi special aircraft #GoBackModi #GoBackCulpritModi #ஓடிப்போமோடி pic.twitter.com/Wd8CuGcMB8
— Manuraj S (@manuraj1983) April 12, 2018
#GoBackModi கெத்து 💪 pic.twitter.com/iz626GTBWM
— முகமது வாழவந்தார் (@Vavarism) April 12, 2018
Directors Bharathiraja, Vetrimaran, Gowthaman and Amir protesting at Chennai Airport against PM Modi’s visit to the state.
— bala (@trendsetterbala) April 12, 2018
#CauveryProtest #GoBackModi pic.twitter.com/BrnvgOicfR
#GoBackModi
— Prakash Anbazhagan (@Prakash88111658) April 12, 2018
1. Anita and NEET.
2. Neutrino in Theni.
3. Methene in Cauvery Delta.
4. Sterlite in Thoothukudi.
5. Hindi everywhere. No domestic airplane announces in Tamil.
TN is slowly made into a graveyard for Tamil lives and culture.
Modi silently approving all.#ஓடிப்போமோடி
A Prime Minister of a Country is so scared of Tamilians, he travels only in helicopters to all places! Create Cauvery Management Board. We know it's difficult than corruption. But still don't go to a place where people don't even resect you! #GoBackModi #Cauvery
— Sailesh Neelakantan (@Sailesh010) April 12, 2018
I see Tamilians trending
— சின்னா (@chinnaa_psv) April 12, 2018
' #GoBackModi '
as a North Indian I share the pain of my tamilian brothers and sisters.
There's not a single state from Jammu Kashmir to Kerala that Narendra Modi has not cheated. It's time we collectively unite against his lies and deceits.
#GoBackModi protest against state and central sarkar. pic.twitter.com/be8se7MVa4
— Illangovan (@Illangovan_k) April 12, 2018
#GoBackModi pic.twitter.com/I6iuLmuxQ4
— Perumal PaulRaj (@perumal_paulraj) April 12, 2018