Southern Circuit [09 April 2018]: Let's wind up with today's top news from South India

Dalit hartals, Cauvery protests on one hand, election heat on the other. Welcome to Southern Circuit as we highlight the day's top news from Southern India. I'm Pratiba Raman!

We start with Tamil Nadu that is torn between IPL and Cauvery protests. Are CSK players in the state under threat? Sumi will tell us more.

(IPL 2018 to Cauvery Management Board: We aren't responsible if anything happens to CSK players, says Velmurugan)

Sumi: It's action-packed in Chennai now Pratiba! Velmurugan, the president of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, has issued an open threat to the IPL players over Cauvery. He has said that if IPL is held in the Chepauk Stadium, then his party members will lay siege to the stadium. Velmurugan also said that if something occurs to the CSK players then his party is not responsible for it. “We know that CSK players are practising in Chennai. Players should understand that we are upset. You will leave the hotel for shopping or sightseeing. If something occurs to you there, we are not responsible,” Velmurugan said.

Pratiba: Thank you Sumi! Well, there's action in Kerala too. Bus services blocked, shops shut down with dalit hartal that took over. Roshini reports...

(Bus services hit, shops closed as Dalits take to streets in Kerala)

Roshini: More than 100 people were taken into custody in Kerala today Pratiba, in connection with the dawn-to-dusk hartal organised by Dalit outfits. Police arrested Aadivasi Gothra Mahasabha leader Geethanandan and 15 others for allegedly blocking vehicles at Kochi. Traffic was disrupted in various parts of the state as the hartal supporters blocked the bus services and forcibly shut down shops. The hartal was called to condemn the police atrocities during Bharat bandh staged across north India on April 2, against dilution of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Pratiba:  Thanks Roshini! While traffic came to a standstill in Kerala, it's all about public modes of transport in Karnataka. A day after Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah took to namma metro, BJP's Yeddyurappa decides to take the autorickshaw. Soumick has the details.

(Karnataka: Yeddyurappa travels by auto as a part of his 'Karunada Bandhu' yatra

Soumick: After Siddaramaiah's travel in the metro, it is his arch nemesis and BJP's Chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, who took to public transport to get closer to the masses. As part of his 'Karunada Bandhu' yatra, he took an auto from Dollars Colony to Shivajinagar, in Bengaluru and thanked the auto driver and the owner of the vehicle. His close aide Shobha Karandlaje said that such an act will become commonplace as part of the   'Karunada Bandhu' yatra.

Pratiba: Thank you Soumick! Talking of yatra... TDP MP's yatra to PM Modi's residence ended up with them being detained. All of this for the special category status. Kaushik is here to tell us all about it.

(Telangana: Chandrababu Naidu says detention of TDP MPs in Delhi height of Centre's oppressive attitude)

Kaushik: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has condemned the detention of TDP MPs by the police in New Delhi, saying it was the height of the Centre's oppressive attitude after some of them were injured in a scuffle with the police. The TDP MPs were detained when they attempted to protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi demanding special category status to Andhra Pradesh. A release from the Chief Minister's Office on Sunday said Naidu spoke over phone with some of the MPs who had been hospitalised following their "arrest" and enquired about their health.

Pratiba: Thanks Kaushik! That's all for the day. We'll be back tomorrow to keep you updated with the all that's brewing in the South. Keep watching Southern Circuit!