Pondy: Traders Welfare Assoc observes hartal

Puducherry, Feb 10: All Traders Welfare Association at Mudalierpet is observing a harthal from 0900 hours to 1300 hours here to protest against the unveiling of the statue of M A Shanmugham, a former Minister and father of Legislator M A S Subramanian.

Most of the shops remained closed.

The statue of Mr Shanmugham was errected on the Cuddalore road at Marappalam here. The traders in the area maintained that the unveiling of the statue was unwarranted as he hailed from Kuruvinatham near here and there was no contribution to his credit for the development of the Union Territory.

The Association would also organise a demonstration tomorrow evening when the statue would be unveiled by Chief Minister N Rangasamy.

Heavy police picketing were posted in the area to prevent any untoward incidents.

UNI