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Rajni distances himself from Tamil filmdom on Cauvery issue

N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai

Caught in the controversy over his role in the Tamil filmdom's agitation against the Karnataka government on the Cauvery water dispute, superstar Rajnikanth on Wednesday announced to undertake a separate fast in Chennai on Saturday, October 12.

On that day the Tamil filmdom is having a demonstration and a rally against the Karnataka government in the Neyveli lignite town.

An agitated and restless looking Rajni said he was not consulted before the decision on the Neyveli agitation.

Rajni had attended Saturday's consultations among the film artistes' in Chennai, and cautioned them on security problems in Neyveli, and proposed Chennai as an alternative venue.

Rajnikanth said, he did not want to join issue with those who wanted to politicise his role in the Cauvery row, saying, "I will take care of them at the time of elections."

He told the filmdom that they could not be expected to solve the problem when even the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister [Atal Bihari Vajpayee] and the Chief Ministers [J Jayalalithaa and S M Krishna] could not do so.

He also asked them to consider the plight of the 4 million Tamils in Karnataka, 'to whom, we should not bring any harm through our actions'.

But he justified the need for protest against the Karnataka government, for its intransigence in releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, South Indian Film Artistes' Association president Vijaykanth, who rushed back to Chennai from a foreign tour, said he would discuss the venue issue with fellow artistes before taking a decision. "I have also sought an appointment with Chief Minister Jayalalitha, to discuss the question."

Meanwhile, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi asked partymen not to join the Neyveli agitation, even while extending support for the cause.

Also See:
Tamil Nadu grinds to a halt over Cauvery issue
Rains bring relief to Cauvery delta area

Cauvery Water Dispute: The Complete Coverage

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