The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Kannada groups suspend protests

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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kannada groups suspend protests

Special Correspondent

They decide to prevent screening of Rajnikanth films
Actor’s remarks against Kannadigas condemned

Bangalore: The Akhila Karnataka Gadi Horata Samithi and the Kannada Rakshana Vedike have decided to “suspend” the call for a State bandh on April 10 following the Tamil Nadu Government’s decision to put on hold the drinking water project at Hogenakkal until an elected Government takes charge in Karnataka.

They have also decided to prevent Tamil superstar Rajnikanth’s films from being screened in the State as he reportedly made “derogatory remarks about Kannadigas” while addressing a protest meeting in Chennai on Friday.

Director-General and Inspector-General of Police K.R. Srinivasan, who held a meeting with leaders of various Kannada organisations, told The Hindu that there would be no bandh on April 10. “While some organisations agreed to withdraw the call for bandh, a few others decided to postpone it,” he said.

Akhila Karnataka Gadi Horata Samithi president Vatal Nagaraj said that the samithi and organisations supporting it had decided to “suspend” their protest following Tamil Nadu’s decision.

Referring to the reported remarks against Kannadigas made by Mr. Rajnikanth, Mr. Nagaraj said there was no need for the actor to have said what he did. The samithi would not allow Mr. Rajnikanth’s films to be screened in any cinema hall in the State, he said.

Joint survey needed

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president T.A. Narayana Gowda told journalists that the vedike would not allow work to begin on the drinking water project until a joint survey of the area was made and the issue settled.

“The Tamil Nadu Government should know that the vedike has only suspended its protest programmes, as Tamil Nadu has only suspended work on the project until the elections are held.”

The vedike would take a delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and seek his immediate intervention, he said.

Taking objections to Mr. Rajnikanth’s remarks, he said all Kannada organisations were united in their decision to prevent the screening of the actor’s films in the State.

At a separate press conference Samajwadi Party State president S. Bangarappa welcomed the Tamil Nadu Government’s stand.

The issue should be sorted out through talks. The Centre should play a fair role in sorting out the matter without giving room for any apprehension. The Centre and the Tamil Nadu Government would be held responsible if things took an ugly turn, Mr. Bangarappa said.

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