Fifty people were today arrested for observing a fast at Avurithidal here in protest against the proposed hydrocarbon project of the Union Government at Neduvasal in Pudukottai district.
Police said they were arrested as they resorted to the protest without seeking prior permission and refused to disperse.
Meanwhile, the agitation against the project entered the 11th day today at Neduvasal.Alangudi MLA Meiyanathan also participated in the agitation.
About 100 persons observed fast at Kottaimedu and another 500 persons at Thilagar Thidal in Pudukottai district.
BJP national Secretary H Raja had recently said the Centre was ready to reconsider its proposal to establish hydrocarbon exploration and extraction project at Neduvasal if people felt that the project was against the interests of farmers.
He had also appealed to the farmers to "not to get carried away" by the "false propaganda" by Left parties and "some vested interests.
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Meanwhile, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko told reporers in Coimbatore that such projects affecting the farmers should not come up.
Briefing reporters on the deliberations of the 25th General Body of the party, he said the present project was another form of the shelved Methane project, which would severly affect the farmers. MDMK will not not allow such projects step into the state, he said.
Stating that the Centre was neglecting Tamil Nadu over its genuine rights of water disputes, be it Cauvery, Mullaperiyar, Bhavani and Palaru, he said the party wanted the Centre to immediately intervene and prevent Kerala and Karnataka governments from constructing dams across Bhavani and Mekedatu respectively.
To a question on the local body polls, Vaiko said that his party would go it alone and ruled out any alliance and identify the winnable seats to contest.
