The Hogenakal drinking water project in Tamil Nadu is raking up and of course turning up into a rather unwanted and unnecessary and ugly controversy. The project is a joint venture which got the approval of the Central Government in the year 1999 itself and is to be located in a territory belonged to Tamil Nadu, nearby Hogenakkal.
But the trouble brewed when the assembly elections are round the corner in Karnataka and the dates for which is shortly going to be announced by the Election Commission of India. It was Yeddiurappa, the BJP leader, who resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, unable to prove his majority in the assembly, who set the ball of trouble in motion by visiting Hogenakkal with his political henchmen.
To draw something from Hogenakkal to his party’s advantage in the forthcoming assembly elections, Yeddiurappa claimed that the proposed drinking water project site in Hogenakkal is situate in Karnataka and his controversial claim sparked of the controversy.
Realising that Yeddiurappa is making an issue out of a non-issue, other political parties in Karnataka also followed suit to offset the advantage, if any, that may be gained by BJP.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr.Karunanithi, issued a categorical ststement the day before yesterday, spelling out his resolve to complete the Hogenakkal drinking water project at any cost.Even the BJP leader and President of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, has clearly stated that Yeddiyurappa is making only a political stunt to gain some advantage in the assembly elections.
Protesting over the legitimate statement made by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, an illegitimate struggle has been launched in Karnataka. Yesterday, the Rakshana Vedika activists in Karnataka, targeting the cinema theatres which screened Tamil Movies indulged in vandalism protesting over the statement of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.The action of Rakshana Vedika activists created a law and order problem and unrest among the Tamils residing in Karnataka.
Reacting to and protesting over the action of Rakshana Vedika activists,’Kolywood’, the Tamil Film Industry convened a general body meeting, expelled the Kannada film unit from their association,expressing its concern over what is happening in Karnataka.
Meanwhile, various organizations in Karnataka, have organized a ‘bandh’on April,10 th. The Tamil Film industry has organized for a ‘fast’ to show their protest over the violent incidents happened in Karnataka, especially to the theatres which screened ‘Tamil’movies.
The Tamil Nadu Government has sought the intervention of the Central Government to safeguard the rights of the Tamils, in Karnataka in the wake of the proposed ‘bundh’ going to be held on April 10 th.
It seems unscrupulous politicians in Karnataka may prolong the agitation targetting the Tamils, until the Assembly elections are over there. The happenings in Karnataka is a difficult pill to swallow and is a clear sign of the degeneration of democracy in
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