Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Unsettling

The editorial “Unsettling a settled issue” (April 3) rightly calls for restraint among political parties in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the Hogenakkal drinking water supply project issue. While upstream riparian states have natural advantages over the lower riparian states, the latter cannot be deprived of their rights. Politicians and fringe groups should not be allowed to hijack the issue, throwing the rule of law and implementation of agreements to the winds.

It is deplorable that the issue has been taken to ridiculous heights by stopping the screening of films and damaging establishments, misusing the freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.

P.E. Muthu,
Mumbai

It is true that politicians thrive on controversies. However, when the controversy generated by politicians takes an ugly turn in the form of regional, linguistic and ethnic chauvinism, the administrative machinery must intervene immediately instead of adopting a wait-and-watch approach.

The people, on their part, should understand the narrow-minded sinister designs of politicians and exercise restraint rather than add fuel to the fire.

G.S. Kumar,
Chennai

It is not clear why Tamil cinema and television channels are targeted in Karnataka whenever the water-sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka flares up. The protesters can express their opposition to any project which they feel is against the interests of their State by other peaceful methods. It is not as if the Hogenakkal project is going to be implemented through Tamil movies and television serials.

The Congress and the BJP should appeal to smaller parties and Kannada organisations to stop such senseless acts.

S.V. Nagaraj,
Chennai

Damaging theatres screening Tamil films and vehicles, forcibly stopping the telecast of Tamil TV channels, etc., have become a big tamasha for fringe Kannada groups. Such groups, it seems, wait for an opportunity to vent their anti-Tamil feelings. Even though Karnataka has several water and land-related disputes with its neighbours speaking Telugu, Malayalam, and Marathi, only Tamils are time and again targeted by these groups. Since they indulge in violence in the name of Kannada, the police hardly take any action against them.

We Kannadigas are peace-loving people and believe that water being god’s gift should be shared by all. We have nothing to do with self-styled linguistic groups.

Prabhu Harle,
Bangalore

The row over the Hogenakkal project has taken a chauvinistic turn with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s unnecessary statement and Kannada activists’ over-reaction to an issue that can be solved across the table. Banning movies and television channels will only exacerbate the situation. The dispute which is taking a new turn everyday has nothing to do with the Tamils residing in Karnataka, who are at the receiving end whenever the dispute arises. The Kannada organisations should fight the powers that be, not the toiling masses.

N. Divakar,
Mysore

As a senior and experienced politician, Mr. Karunanidhi should have anticipated the consequences of his statement before making it. There is no popular government in Karnataka and the Cauvery water dispute has not yet been resolved. This was hardly the time to take up the drinking water project in Hogenakkal.

Because of the political parties’ desire to derive mileage from regional issues, it is the common people of both States who suffer, not politicians.

Raghavendra R. Pawar,
Bangalore

The call by pro-Kannada organisations for a Karnataka bandh on April 10 to protest over the issue is uncalled for and unjustified. The issue should be sorted out peacefully. The Kannada groups should think of the time, money and energy that will be wasted, not to mention possible damage to public and private property, during the bandh. It is shameful of our leaders to adopt such narrow approaches to resolving an issue, even after 60 years of gaining independence.

C.K. Satyaraj,
Kochi

It is quite distressing to see the cultural doyens of both States keeping quiet while politicians are provoking their followers against their brethren, forgetting their cultural bonds. When chauvinistic groups indulge in acts of destruction, civil society representatives such as educationists, NGOs and leaders at the grassroot level should make efforts to stop them, instead of leaving the responsibility of finding solutions to political hawks.

C. John Rose,
Arumanai

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Power and prejudice
Silver lining
Iran elections and their aftermath
Nigeria’s immorality about hypocrisy, not miniskirts
Death for writers condemned
Corrections and Clarifications
From Tibet to China’s Tibet: Is history an ally for Tibet?
Unsettling
Senior citizens
Disturbing trend

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu