Karunanidhi in a fix over Hogenakkal

Thu, Apr 10 12:30 AM

S.M. Krishna might have described Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Karunanidhi's deferment of the Hogenakkal project as "statesman like," but as every day passes, the DMK veteran's decision has blunder written all over it even as protests over the decision are growing in Tamil Nadu. Though violence in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu might have ceased due to Karunanidhi's announcement, there is a perceptible sense of betrayal of Tamil Nadu's interests as voiced by Jayalalithaa.

This feeling is further underlined by the silence of Karunanidhi's key allies, the Congress, CPM and CPI on the issue. Film stars turned politicians, Vijayakanth and Sharathkumar, who during their fast supported a resolution that vowed to back any step taken by the chief minister on the issue, have now turned around and questioned his decision to put a temporary halt to the project.

The ally PMK, without questioning the wisdom behind Karunanidhi's decision, has wondered why his government, capable of spending Rs 750 crore every year for free TVs, is unable to find the money to push through the scheme that costs Rs 1,334 crore. "There is enough weight behind Jayalalithaa's reasoning that Karunanidhi, by advocating that we wait for an elected government in Karnataka, has unwittingly vested Karnataka with the right to decide on the future of the project ," admitted a senior Congress MLA..

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