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Cracks appear in Tamil filmdom over Cauvery row

With Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi directing film personalities owing allegiance to the party to stay away from the controversial filmdom-sponsored anti-Karnataka agitation in Neyveli on Saturday, and the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress backing superstar Rajnikanth's plan to go on a daylong fast in Chennai the same day, the Cauvery row seems to have divided the Tamil industry.

All the three parties had extended support to the Neyveli programme. However, within hours of Rajnikanth announcing his plans, BJP national secretary L Ganesan and the state Congress leadership extended support to it.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president S Balakrishnan and working president E V K S Elangovan said partymen would join Rajnikanth in his fast. It is unclear if the DMK cadres and the film stars supporting the party would do so.

The Tamils' Welfare Protection Front under filmmaker Bharati Raaja still swears by the Neyveli programme, but his assertion that film personalities would violate prohibitory orders and march towards the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Second Unit has not gone down well.

Taking advantage of the fact that Raaja had not announced a schedule for the demonstration, Karunanidhi said such things could incite violence.

Incidentally, the TWPF has since been rechristened Cauvery Protection Committee. Apparently, the earlier name gave the impression that it was a pan-Tamil organisation.

South Indian Film Artistes' Association president Vijaykanth is said to share the views of Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan that the venue should be shifted to Chennai, where security can be ensured.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi and Dalit Panthers Party have their political base in the Neyveli neighbourhood. The region has also been a breeding ground for pan-Tamil militants for decades.

Cauvery Water Dispute: The Complete Coverage

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