The series of agitations being held across Tamil Nadu and the frequent hartal’s in the name of Cauvery and Sterlite Copper could hamper the prospects of the State’s industrialisation and economic developments, warned a former judge of the High Court and many business barons.
Chennai is all set to host the Defence Expo 2018 which begins on April 11. The four-day event to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday has attracted global armament giants like Boeing, lockheed Martin, Saab and Dassault Aviation which are looking for setting up shops in India.
The event is a precursor to the proposed Defence Corridor, a cluster of manufacturing units providing thousands of jobs to the people in Tamil Nadu. The Defence Corridor is an attempt by the Centre to elevate Tamil Nadu as India’s leading defence hubs.
The State is on the boil since last month with all major political outfits agitating for the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board.
“The timing of the agitation itself is dubious. The Defence Expo is the answer the country is looking for to resolve the armament shortage faced by the defence forces. But investors from foreign countries coming to Chennai would not be humoured by what they see as agitations and demonstrations,” said the High Court judge who does not want his name to be quoted for obvious reasons.
“I have my own doubts about this agitation. It could be part of a deep rooted conspiracy which has the potential to subvert India’s defence procurement and Made In India plans,” he added.
Kattumannarkoil Kannan, faremer leader and vice-president of Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association said that he was against blaming the present ruling dispensation at the Centre for not constituting the CMB.
“The Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal had ordered the constitution of the CMB in February 2007 itself. But the UPA Government did not follow the verdict and the CMB was not constituted during its tenure which lasted upto 2014,” said Kannan.
Meanwhile unprecedented security has been provided in ad around the Chepauk stadium where the IPl matches are scheduled.
Police sources have got wind of the efforts by some of the leading Tamil chauvinist outfits to stage black flag demonstrations during the match in the stadium itself.
Pravin Pillai, a business consultant based in Chennai said there was nothing unusual in the Cauvery agitation. “It is the beauty of democracy. Ours is a strong and self confident democracy. The entrepreneurs coming for the Defence Expo would be happy to note that democracy is strong and vibrant in India,” said Pillai.
He also pointed out that the Centre has not said that it would not set up the CMB. “The union water resources secretary is on record telling that the mechanism would be in place and there need not be any apprehension,” he added.