Tamil chauvinists and secessionists had a field day in Tamil Nadu on Thursday with a brazen display of anti-India slogans and an office of the Indian Oil Corporation in Chennai coming under attack under the guise of anti-Karnataka protests for Cauvery waters. The day’s highlight was an attempt of self-immolation by an activist belonging to the Naam Tamilar Party led by Seeman Sebastian, a Tamil leader seeking secession of Tamil Nadu from India. The activist who tried self-immolation during the demonstration organised by the outfit was rescued by policemen and admitted to the general hospital.
Major political parties in the State, barring the AIADMK, have declared their support to Friday’s bandh call given by Cauvery Delta Farmers to protest against the intransigent attitude of Karnataka Government in releasing Cauvery waters. People who have planned their trip to Tamil Nadu on Friday could face difficulties to reach their destinations from railway stations and airports as autos and share autos are expected to stay off the roads.
All private schools in the State will remain closed on Friday as school managements have declared a holiday.
AM Vikramaraja, president, Federation of Traders’ Associations of Tamil Nadu, said that all 21 lakh shops and business establishments would remain closed on Friday. The 11 lakh trucks employed to transport essential commodities too would remain off the roads, said Vikramaraja. The Tea Shop Owners Association said all tea shops across the State would down the shutters on Friday.
Secessionists made hay with the 24X7 Tamil news channels vying with one another in telecasting anti-Karnataka and anti-Centre speeches made by them. With fringe outfits like May 17 Movement and Dravida Kazhagam, which are known only as frontal organisations of the lTTE, too announcing their support to the general strike, there is fear among the police that the strike could turn violent.
Security and Intelligence agencies were baffled by the burning of effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi by the protesters. The speeches delivered by Seeman and his associates after staging the demonstration were anti-India in nature substantiating the fears expressed by intelligence agencies whether the secessionists were hijacking the agitation.
Thursday’s attack on Indian Oil Corporation office at Teynampet and the tone of speeches delivered by MDMK leader Vaiko lambasting the Centre for the delay in constituting the Cauvery Management Board are seen as attempts by some organisations to beef up the anti-India feelings in Tamil Nadu. “The union government is cheating Tamils in the Cauvery issue,” alleged Vaiko..
N Kalyanasundaram, chronicler of Tamil Nadu’s political history, said the agitation in Tamil Nadu would fizzle out soon. “How do you expect Karnatala to release Cauvery water when there is no water with themIJ let the Tamil Nadu farmers go to Karnataka and see for themselves the real state of affairs in the reservoirs. The agitations and bundhs are all unreasonable,” said Kalyanasundaram.
Sl Bhyrappa, noted historian and author based in Bangalore pointed out that the demand by Tamil Nadu for Cauvery water is unreasonable at this juncture. “The south west monsoon, the main source of water for Cauvery has been weak in 2016. It is almost over this year. But Tamil Nadu stands to gain by the North East Monsoon which is expected to hit the Tamil Nadu coast by October. Hence it is unreasonable for Tamil Nadu to demand for the non-existent water from Karnataka,” said Bhyrappa.