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Rajnikant plans fast in Chennai

By Our Special Correspondent

Rajnikant

CHENNAI OCT. 9. Fissures in the Tamil Film industry over the October 12 agitation at Neyveli on the Cauvery issue widened today with the film star, Rajnikant, announcing a parallel fast in Chennai.

Even as the president of the actors' association, Vijaykant, announced that its members would participate in the Neyveli agitation, Mr. Rajnikant gave the call for a less confrontationist mode of protest in the State capital.

Bharatiraaja

In another serious setback to those planning the Nevyeli stir, under the leadership of the director Bharatiraaja, the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, said his party would not support an agitation which was intended to be `secretive' and organised without obtaining permission from authorities.

Referring to Mr. Bharatiraaja's initial refusal to specify the time of the agitation and his threat to go ahead with the protest even without permission from the Neyveli township authorities, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Dravidian tradition did not allow for `secretive' forms of agitation. Mr. Bharatiraaja's call for such an agitation seemed to be an attempt to invite violence. Hence, film artists affiliated to the DMK would not participate in the Neyveli agitation, which had the blessings of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, he said.

However, Mr. Bharatiraaja later denied he planned to force entry into the Neyveli Lignite Corporation if artists were denied permission. The rally would begin at 2 p.m.

Mr. Rajnikant said he would organise a fast programme at the headquarters of the actors' association or in the film chamber or at Valluvar Kottam. Criticising those adopting the confrontationist mode of agitation at Neyveli, he wondered who would take responsibility for the lives of "40 lakh Tamils'' in Karnataka. There was no way the Neyveli agitation would stop power supply to Karnataka.

Vijaykant

At the same time, he said, a protest on the Cauvery issue was justified as the Kannada film industry had organised an agitation in support of the Karnataka Government stand. But, the protestors in Tamil Nadu should demand implementation of the Supreme Court order, and not ask for stoppage of electricity to Karnataka, he said. However, Mr. Vijaykant, who claimed to have ascertained the views of actors on the mode of agitation, said it was decided to stick to the original plan of staging the protest at Neyveli.

Asked about Mr. Rajnikant's observation that the Neyveli agitation would not help to bring Cauvery water, he shot back: "Will they release Cauvery water just because Mr. Rajnikant undertakes a fast?''

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