Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi on October 9
expressed apprehensions that the proposed rally by the Tamil Film Industry over the
Cauvery issue on October 12 at Neyveli might turn violent and asked actors owing
allegiance to DMK to take part in the rally only if it was peaceful.
In a statement, he said that film director Bharatiraja, who is organising the rally,
had stated that it was an agitation and the timing of the agitation would not be
revealed.
Karunanidhi pointed out that Bharatiraja had also said that film personalities might
defy a ban against staging the protest if it was imposed. "I do not know where these
things will lead," the DMK chief said.
Bharatiraja's statement seemed to incite violence, he said and asked actors, who are
DMK members, to participate in the rally only if it was peaceful and organised by
the South Indian Artistes association.
He said that he had earlier extended DMK's support to the rally thinking that it
would be peaceful.
Karunanidhi's statement assumed significance in the wake of film actor Rajnikant
deciding to organise a fast here on October 12 demanding Cauvery water, and
appealing to those, who were willing to join the fast, to do so.
South Indian Artistes association general secretary R Saratkumar is DMK's Rajya
Sabha member, while its vice president Napolean is the party's MLA.
PTI
