Land acquisition bill: CPI holds protests across Tamil Nadu, D Raja detained

CHENNAI: CPI National Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja along with other activists was today detained when they tried to stage a ' rail roko' (stop the train) here protesting the Land Bill even as the party staged protests across the state in front of Central government establishments.

Raja led the protest in front of Chennai Central Railway station. Slogans were raised condemning the Land Bill with activists urging the Centre not to proceed with the "anti-farmer" measure.

However, when Left party workers tried to resort to rail roko (stop the train) they were restrained and taken away, police said.

Raja, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan were among those detained at a Corporation-run Community Hall, police said, adding, they will be released later today.

At Sivaganga, CPI MLA S Gunasekaran led the protest. In Sathyamangalam and Valparai, the agitations were led by legislators PL Sundaram and M Arumugam respectively.

Party workers staged protests in Kumbakonam, Salem, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Srivilliputhur, Valliyur, Sankaran Koil and Ambasamudram.