Thursday, July 28 2005 14:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Thousands of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) workers, including party's MPs, MLAs and top office bearers launched an eight-hour fast in front of Central Government offices all over Tamil Nadu, in protest against the failure of Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to give any assurance to the state on the Cauvery issue.

However, AIADMK ministers did not participate in the fast.

AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had yesterday (July 27, 2005) asked her party men to observe a fast from 10 AM to 6 PM today (July 28, 2005), seeking immediate release of cauvery water by Karnataka.

In Chennai, AIADMK organising secretary, Visalakshmi Nedunchezhiyan, led hundreds of party workers in the fast in front of the Memorial Hall near Southern Railway headquarters.

They shouted slogans condemning the Centre and also the Karnataka Government's lethargic attitude in releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Reports of similar fasts have been received from district and Taluk headquarters in the state.

Jayalalithaa yesterday (July 27, 2005) expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of her meeting with Dr Singh on Tuesday (July 26, 2005) and said he had not done anything tangible on the matter.