The Hindu : Industry protest not over: Bharatiraaja

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Industry protest not over: Bharatiraaja

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Oct. 15 . The Tamil filmdom protest against Karnataka's refusal to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu is not over, the director, Bharatiraaja, who heads the agitation committee, said here today.

Though actors belonging to different parties were stressing till yesterday the ``symbolic nature'' of the industry participation, Mr. Bharatiraaja, one of the first to voice his opinion on the Cauvery tangle, declared that there could be a second phase. ``Our journey towards the next stage will continue,'' he told a press conference here.

Asked what the next stage involved, he said organisations representing artists had put forth their demands. If these were not met, then, ``when the time comes to put across these more forcefully'' the film world would do so.

With a touch of drama, Mr. Bharatiraaja declared that he would bear all ``verbal'' and ``physical'' abuses directed at him; but the people of the State had a responsibility to ensure that farmers were not hurt. Hence, he appealed to the people not to turn the issue towards an individual. ``Please turn the focus on the Cauvery.''

Taking credit for everyone in the film world talking about the Cauvery issue now, he said he was happy with this development. ``This was my aim. That has been fully and successfully accomplished.''

`Not toeing AIADMK line'

Seeking to dispel the notion that he was following an AIADMK agenda, Mr. Bharatiraaja recalled instances of his having been associated with M.G. Ramachandran, the TMC founder, the late G.K. Moopanar, the MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, and the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi. ``After Kalaignar was arrested (last year), I was the first from the film world to give a statement condemning the act. At that time no one said I was part of the DMK.''

Asked why he spoke of the DMK president in degrading terms at Saturday's Neyveli rally, Mr. Bharatiraaja challenged anyone to prove that he made such a statement.

Theni house stoned

Our Theni Staff Reporter reports:

Meanwhile, an unidentified group threw stones at the house of Mr. Bharathiraaja at N.R.T. Nagar at Theni town in the wee hours of Monday. His mother, Karuthammal, was staying alone at the time of the incident.

Posters condemning the remarks of Mr. Bharathiraaja against the actor, Rajnikant, were also pasted in this locality.

Two police personnel were posted at his residence for security.

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