A farmer’s association in Tamil Nadu has demanded that Rajnikanth donate Rs.1 crore to keep up with his commitment in August 2002, stating his will to assist the South-Indian rivers linking project.
On 13 August 2002, a number of Kollywood celebrities participated in a hunger strike, condemning Karnataka on the issue of Cauvery river. On the same day, actor Rajnikanth released a statement saying he would provide Rs.1 crore for the Indian rivers inter-link project. However, the Central and State Governments are yet to take any steps to materialize this project.
In the meanwhile, the farmer’s association, which calls itself, ‘National South Indian River-Linking Farmers Association’ has demanded that the actor pay up soon. Ayyakanu, a representative of the association, while speaking to a daily newspaper said, “Rajnikanth promised to pay Rs.1 crore for the river linking project. Even after 14 years, he hasn’t given the amount to the Central or State Government”. The group has also threatened to stage a hunger-strike before the actor’s residence if he fails to abide by their demands.
Recommended
The farmer’s outfit has been in the news for similar antics in the past. In 2014, they staged a novel protest demanding the financiers to return their confiscated tractors. Arriving with uncovered torsos and wielding a “thiruvodu“, the farmers “begged” them to return the tractors. In 2015, the same group organised a march on the Karnataka border, wielding a thiruvodu again, and this time pleaded with their Karnataka counterparts to release the water. After a two-hour long animated pleading, the farmers returned home with their empty bowls.