Take back Surappa's appointment: Opposition to Governor

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Friday saw the appointment of eminent academician Dr M K Surappa as Anna University Vice Chancellor from the prism of his Karnataka roots and opposed his naming in the midst of the raging Cauvery row.

Though educationists saw nothing wrong in Anna University getting a vice chancellor with the stature of Dr Surappa, who has served the prestigious Indian Institute of Science for 30 years, political parties, including new-comer Kamal Haasan, refused to accept his appointment.

Dr Surappa was among three academicians who were shortlisted for the top post that has been lying vacant for the past two years and piped the remaining two, both hailing from Tamil Nadu, to clinch the job.

Leading the charge against Dr Surappa's appointment by Governor Banwarilal Purohit was DMK working president M K, Stalin who saw the move as "belittling of the sons of the soil" as well as one aimed at slowly "saffronising" Tamil Nadu.

"At a time when Cauvery protests are at its peak in Tamil Nadu, Governor Banwarilal Purohit appointing Dr Surappa, who is from Karnataka, as the VC of Anna University is unacceptable," the Opposition Leader said.

Kamal, who has promised to maintain a good relationship with neighbouring states, too jumped onto the bandwagon seeing it through the Cauvery prism.

"We asked for water from Karnataka and we get a vice chancellor from Karnataka instead. The gulf between people and the government cannot be more obvious. Are they taunting us so we react adversely? I wonder what their game plan is," he tweeted.

However, within an hour, the actor added: "Mr. Nagesh One of my Gurus. Mr. Rajkumar anna Mrs. Sarojadevi and my friends Mr. Rajnikanth and Mr. Ambresh are my own. That was a humorous quip at the central and state governments Not a swipe at the Chancellor. Nevertheless TN needs water."

PMK founder S Ramadoss and MDMK chief Vaiko also opposed Dr Surappa's appointment and demanded that the decision be rolled back.

However, the Tamil Nadu government defended the governor's decision saying he has been appointed after following due procedure.