TIME NOT RIGHT FOR CHENNAI TO HOLD IPL: RAJINI ON CAUVERY ROW

CHENNAI: The Tamil film industry, toplined by actor-politicians Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, observed a silent protest on Sunday to demand the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board amid calls for organisers to stop Indian Premier League games in Chennai.

Before the joining the protest at Valluvarkottam in central Chennai, Rajinikanth questioned the timing of conducting the T20 cricket tournament in the state.

“It will be nice if IPL is not played this time in Chennai, understanding the plight of the farmers due to severe shortage of water,” he told journalists outside his house before heading to the protest site.

Rajinikanth added that if it was not possible to withdraw at this stage, then the players should wear black badges to highlight the plight of the state’s farmers.

“The CSK (Chennai Super Kings) franchise should think over the issue and appreciate the fact that the time is not ripe for IPL in Chennai,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must step in and set up the river management board without any delay in the interest of small and marginal farmers of Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu.

Earlier, Kamal Haasan too had opposed hosting IPL matches in Chennai.

While Kamal Haasan, president of the Makkal Needhi Maiam party, has been voicing his displeasure against the Centre over Cauvery, this is the first time that Rajinikanth spoke out on the issue.

Their call came a day after CSK made a comeback to IPL after a two-year ban, winning the first match against Mumbai Indians on Saturday night.