Mahadayi: Sandalwood throws weight behind agitating farmers

 In a heart-warming gesture, the who’s who of Kannada cinema expressed solidarity, in front of a sea of people, with the ongoing farmers’ agitation for speedy implementation of Mahadayi river linking project at the Rani Channamma Circle here on Sunday.

Interestingly, it is the very place where Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar shot his immortal song ‘Huttidare Kannada Nadalli Huttabeku...’ And on Sunday, a galaxy of Sandalwood stars enlivened the busy junction for a cause of the land. 

“It’s just the beginning, and it will continue till a logical conclusion is achieved,” was the refrain. They urged the governments of the riparian states of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, as well as the Centre to resolve the Mahadayi water-sharing dispute and thereby ease water woes in the parched North Karnataka districts.

For many artistes, the film industry’s rally in Hubballi, brought the memories of Gokak agitation led by Dr Rajkumar three decades ago. They reiterated that the film industry always responded to the problems of people in the State.

Wearing a green shawl symbolising farmers’ struggle, ‘Hat-trick Hero’ Shivrajkumar stated that the film industry stood with farmers and would continue to support the agitation till the demand is fulfilled.

“The government should show intent and will to settle the dispute and implement the Kalasa-Banduri project at the earliest. We have given water to Tamil Nadu and we are now claiming our share of water from Mahadayi. We should stay united and our voice should be heard in Bengaluru, Delhi and the entire world,” he said.

Shivrajkumar also said that film artistes were ready to visit Nargund and Navalgund, the epicentre of the present Kalasa-Banduri agitations, and other places where the agitation was being held.

United we stand

‘Crazy Star’ Ravichandran lamented that the problem was allowed to grow, instead of being solved at the beginning itself.

Senior actress and MLC Jayamala urged the prime minister to call a meeting of the chief ministers of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka to arrange a tripartite compromise formula to resolve the inter-state river water dispute.

Film Artistes’ Association president Doddanna, actors Bharati Vishnuvardhan, B Sarojadevi, Puneeth Rajkumar, Upendra, Darshan, Duniya Vijay, Ganesh, Yash, Malashri, Shruti, Sundar Raj, Pooja Gandhi, Anu Prabhakar and others also spoke and expressed their support to the agitation.

Dr Rajkumar Fans’ Association president Sa Ra Govindu said a call for Karnataka bandh on September 26 had been given on the Kalasa-Banduri issue. Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Thomas D’Souza, producers Ramu, Basantkumar Patil, director Nagendra Prasad and others were present. Earlier, film personalities took out a rally from Moorusaviramutt premises and reached Channamma Circle via Koppikar Road.

Shivrajkumar for farm loan waiver

The film industry’s rally in Hubballi on Sunday also became a platform for film artistes to demand complete waiver of farmer loans.

Shivrajkumar said that farm loans should be waived. He urged farmers not to get disheartened and end their lives and instead face the problems courageously. Doddanna expressed similar views.

Woman and Child Welfare Minister Umashree, who visited the rally site, said that the government was considering the demand for farmers’ loan waiver.