PMK cadres stone trains, block roads near Chennai

Chennai, Dec 1 (IANS) The cadres of PMK, an ally of Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK, on Tuesday stoned trains and blocked roads in Chennai's suburbs after police blocked their entry into the city.The PMK wanted to protest in the city pressing their demand for 20 per cent reservation in state government jobs and higher education for Vanniars.Party cadres from different parts of the state tried to enter the city but were stopped by the police near Perungalathur near here.The PMK members then parked their vehicles on the highway in a haphazard manner, throwing the traffic out of gear and resulting in long traffic jam.Some went to the nearby railway station and protested on the tracks and also stoned a passenger train.The police allowed only important PMK functionaries to enter the city.Later PMK leader and Rajya Sabha member Anbumani Ramadoss and other senior party leaders met Chief Minister K. Palaniswami at the state secretariat and submitted a memorandum for reservation for the Vanniar caste.Addressing the media, Ramadoss said reservation is related to the state's development.
--IANS vj/vd