Insane politics

The TamilNadu government is constructing a drinking water project at Hogenakkal, with an aid from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, near the border with its neighbouring state, Karnataka. The Hogenakkal Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project is expected to benefit about 3 million people. Tensions arose when the politicians from Karnataka, claimed that a 400-acre island at the point where the river Cauvery enters Tamil Nadu to form the picturesque Hogenakkal waterfall is part of their state. It is a pity that even after 60 years after independence, people dispute over state borders. It is also hilarious to note that the state units of the same political party on either states, claim the land to be part of the respective states and blame one another. This clearly shows that the politicians are trying to create and politicise an issue which never existed, in the first place.

Rediff.com reports – “Tamil film screenings disrupted in Bangalore over Cauvery dispute”

Members of the Kannnada Rakshana Vedike disrupted the screening of Tamil movies across Bangalore … office of the Tamil Sangam was attacked.Narayan Gowda, convener of the Vedike, told reporters that they would intensify the protests…. would not allow a single Tamil movie to be screened in Karnataka.

Are these actions in anyway connected to solving the problem? The theatres are owned and run by Kannadigas and such actions affect their interests rather than Tamilians. Though people have right to protest and voice their views, anything beyond it is a violation of democracy. If such people are genuinely concerned about the development of their state, let them protest against the indifference of the tottering administration, lack of infrastructure and work towards solving the problems plaguing the state.

Most often, the common man does not differentiate his neighbours by state or the language spoken, atleast in Bangalore. This differentiation is sparked by the politicians with the help of a section of media. Historically, the politicians have been successful in fooling the people by making them believe that, being anti-tamilian means being pro-kannadiga and viceversa. Happening at a time when the elections are nearing, people should be aware of this ploy by parties to make people forget their inadequacies. Unless these are highlighted and understood, the feud over the water and tit for tat actions are bound to continue to add fear to the already difficult life of the common man.