Cauvery water row: Politicos plan protests

Chennai: Amidst raging Cauvery clashes, leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Tuesday returned to Tamil Nadu from London and sought the Prime Minister’s intervention to ensure protection for Tamils in Karnataka.

DMDK leader and actor Vijayakanth arrived on the Cauvery scene with an announcement of fast on September 16 condemning the assault on Tamils in Karnataka. Echoing the views of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, MDMK general secretary Vaiko too urged restraint in Tamil Nadu as lakhs of Tamils are living in Karnataka.

The state unit of CPI announced a rail roko urging the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board to avert clashes between the two states every year.
However, the CPM politburo wanted the dispute to be resolved through negotiations and mutual agreement. In Neyveli, about 300 activists of Thamizhar Vazhvurimai Katchi were arrested for protests against giving electricity to Karnataka from the NLC.

Immediately after landing in Chennai, Stalin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should call the Chief Ministers of the two states and hold talks with them. The Supreme Court had ordered the release of water to Tamil Nadu and it is the responsibility of the Centre and Karnataka to honour the judgment, he added.

Vijayakanth said Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's letter to her counterpart seeking protection for Tamils is belated and expressed anguish that she had waited till the burning of many buses and lorries. Vijayakanth's fast coincides with the bandh called by farmers on the same day. Traders association headed by Vikramaraja said traders would shut shops on the day and lorries would not be operated.

Vaiko said lakhs of Tamils are living in Karnataka for many years and their business firms are functioning in Bengaluru. In these circumstances, attacking Kanndigas and their establishments in Tamil Nadu would be counter-productive, he cautioned.

Instead, Tamil Nadu stand must be united to exert pressure on Karnataka and centre to implement the Supreme Court verdict, he added.

PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss wrote a letter to Prime Minister saying that the responsibility of operating the dams in Karnataka should be handed over the supervisory committee till the formation of the Cauvery Management Board.