CMB issue: Rajini, Kamal observe silent protest

Chennai: Joining the ongoing state-wide protests demanding constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) by the Centre, actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Hassan, Vijay and other film personalities participated in a silent protest here.

The Tamil Film Producers’ Council (TFPC), South Indian Artistes’ Association (SIAA), Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI) and Distributors’ Association had announced that the silent protest would be held here in 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 the 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 the ruling AIADMK staging a hunger strike led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on April 3 condemning the Centre for not setting up a CMB.

The DMK-led Opposition parties’ state-wide bandh demanding an 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 Cauvery water share of Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu’s share.

The Apex Court granted six weeks time to the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance with 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.