On Sunday, it was an unusual sight in Chennai.
Not many could have thought that the simmering tension over the Cauvery issue will bring together two of the biggest names in Tamil Nadu.
Along with hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Tamil Nadu’s capital city, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth shared the stage to protest against Centre’s delay in forming the Cauvery Management Board.
This was for the very first time since both announced their political career that they came toghther.
Burying their political differences, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan spoke for the people of Tamil Nadu and said that at a time when people are suffering, it is an embarrassment to talk about cricket.
Both shared the view that until the Cauvery issue is not resolved IPL matches must not be held in the state.
Rajinikanth, who has announced his intentions to launch his political party, said the entire Tamil Nadu was seeking the formation of Cauvery Management Board "in one voice".
Both of them are amazing crowd-pullers and have devoted fan following. The Haasan-Rajini factor will give impetus to the Cauvery protests.
Earlier in the day, both actors along with other noted personalities of the Tamil Cinema held a silent protest against the Centre.
The Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC), South Indian Artistes' Association (SIAA), Film Employees' Federation of South India (FEFSI) and Distributors' Association participated in the protest.
Top actors, including SIAA president and actor Nasser, Film Producers' Council president and actor Vishal, actors Dhanush and Sathyaraj, directors Shankar and Vikraman and actor-director S A Chandrasekar also participated in the protest.
The Cauvery verdict and its aftermath
Tamil Nadu has been witnessing protests over the CMB issue, with ruling AIADMK staging a hunger strike, led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on April 3, condemning the Centre for not setting it up .
The DMK-led opposition parties' state-wide bandh, demanding early establishment of the CMB to ensure water for farmers as per the Supreme Court order, was held on April 5.
In its February 16 judgement, the apex court had raised the 270 tmcft share of Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water.
The apex court granted six weeks time to the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its 465-page judgement, which modified the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award.
