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Home  » News » IPL in Chennai an 'embarrassment' during Cauvery protests: Rajinikanth

IPL in Chennai an 'embarrassment' during Cauvery protests: Rajinikanth

Source: PTI
April 08, 2018 20:51 IST
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Tamil 'superstar' Rajinikanth on Sunday said the Centre might face the wrath of entire Tamil Nadu if the Cauvery Management Board was not set up immediately.

READ: What the Cauvery dispute is about

IMAGE: Actor Rajinikanth, along with fellow actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan at a protest in support of ongoing agitations in Tamil Nadu for the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and demanding closure of Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin, in Chennai on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo

The actor also expressed reservations over conduct of Indian Premier League cricket matches in Chennai at this juncture, saying such a gala event would be an embarrassment when the state was agitating over the Cauvery issue.

 

The actor, who has announced his intentions to launch his political party, said the entire Tamil Nadu was seeking the formation of Cauvery Management Board "in one voice".

"The Cauvery Management Board should be formed as soon as possible. If the Centre does not do that, it may face the wrath of entire Tamil Nadu", he cautioned.

On IPL, the actor referred to opposition to it by various political parties and outfits and said it would be good if the organisers stopped the matches in Chennai.

If not, the Chennai Super Kings team players could wear black bands and play, he added.

On the appointment of M K Surappa of Kannada origin as Anna University Vice-Chancellor by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, he said it had come "at a wrong-time" as there were protests going on in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Cauvery issue.

"In India, one can work wherever he wants. There is nothing wrong in it. I feel there should no politics in (appointments to) government institutions. However, I think it (appointment of Vice-Chancellor) has happened at a wrong time when the cauvery issue involving Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is there. That is my view", he said.

The appointment of Surappa has kicked up a political row with opposition parties including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam questioning the choice citing his Kannada origin.

The Raj Bhavan has asserted that it adopted a "fair and transparent" process in his selection.

Later, Rajinikanth joined the actors Kamal Hassan and Vijay, along with other actors and film personalities, to participate in a silent protest in Chennai.

The Tamil Film Producers' Council , South Indian Artistes' Association, Film Employees' Federation of South India and Distributors' Association had announced that the silent protest would be held in Chennai's Valluvar Kottam area on Sunday.

Top actors, including SIAA president and actor Nasser, Film Producers' Council president and actor Vishal, actors Dhanush and Sathyaraj, directors Shankar and Vikraman and actor-director S A Chandrasekar also participated in the protest.

The silent protest was also for demanding closure of the Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin, against which the locals have been staging agitations, citing health reasons.

Tamil Nadu has been witnessing protests over the CMB issue, with ruling AIADMK staging a hunger strike, led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on April 3, condemning the Centre for not setting it up .

The DMK-led opposition parties' state-wide bandh, demanding early establishment of the CMB to ensure water for farmers as per the Supreme Court order, was held on April 5.

In its February 16 judgement, the apex court had raised the 270 tmcft share of Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water.

The apex court granted six weeks time to the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its 465-page judgement, which modified the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award.

Following the verdict, Tamil Nadu has been urging the Centre to set up the CWMB and CWRC to ensure it received its due share of water from the inter-state river.

The six-week period ended on March 29.

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