Nearly 500 members of various outfits were arrested in Tamil Nadu on Friday when they attempted to stage a demonstration against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to unveil a 112-foot statue of Adoyogi Lord Shiva at the Isha Yoga centre.
Some black balloons were also released into the air by a section of the protesters as Modi was travelling to the venue near Coimbatore by a helicopter, police said.
The decision to protest against PM Modi was taken collectively by the local tribals and environment activists who allege that the foundation has encroached upon large swathes of environmentally fragile land inside the forest area.
ScoopWhoop News did a special report on the protests.
The protesters raised slogans against Modi for his alleged failure in protecting farmers’ interests and for not taking action against the Isha Yoga for alleged encroachment of tribal land for construction of the face, police said.
During the protest held in front of a tehsildar office in Coimbatore, they also sought the Centre’s intervene to prevent construction of check dams across river Bhavani by Kerala.
Around 500 workers of outfits including Dravidar Kazhagam, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, TMC, MDMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Revolutionary Youth Front, SDPI, and Federation of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association, participated in the demonstration, police said adding all were arrested.
Police also arrested 17 workers of a fringe outfit when they attempted to stage a demonstration against Modi’s visit near the airport.
(Feature image source: PTI)