Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is in Chennai on Thursday for multiple events, has come under criticism from local parties over his 'security' arrangements.
According to the Prime Minister's travel plans, he will not at any point of his visit to Chennai be travelling on roads and come face to face with public.
Massive security arrangements have been made to ensure that the PM flies to both the events he is participating in.
This heightened security arrangement comes because multiple political parties in the state are set to wave black flags at the PM to protest the Centre's failure to form the Cauvery Management board.
The PM will travel by helicopter from the airport to the Defence expo on the Old Mahaballipuram road. Following this, he will make his way back to the centre of the city to inaugurate four facilities at the Adyar Cancer Institute via air. A compound wall shared by the Children’s Park and the cancer institute was demolished to allow the Prime Minister to enter the premises for the event. Authorities have prepared a helipad on the IIT Madras campus.
Questioning the decision to not even enter public roads, MDMK chief Vaiko asked, "Aren't you the bravest, Mr.Modi? Why can't you travel by road? You are going directly into IIT by helicopter and then a wall is broken to let you into Cancer Institute. We have never seen such a cowardly Prime Minister in India. You are a coward. Are we going to shoot you through the black flags? Didn't Nehru face black flags?"
It was DMK working President MK Stalin who first announced that black flags will be hoisted to 'greet' the PM. On Tuesday, he said the day of PM Modi's visit is a day of 'grief' (dukkha naal) for the state in view of the Centre's 'betrayal.' A black flag has already been hoisted at DMK Chief M Karunanidhi's Gopalapuram residence and MK Stalin's residence. Agitators have gathered across the city, including at the airport, with black flags to register their protest.
Some agitators climbed a giant hoarding at the air port to make their black flags visible to the PM's helicopter.
5,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city and at the expo venue for the PM's visit.
Special Action Force and Special Task Force have been roped in and a three-tier security has been arranged at the airport, IIT-M and Cancer Institute, Adyar.
Following intelligence reports that suggested that drones will be used to send black flags into the air, police have warned protesters of severe action.