In a tragic incident, a 21-year-old youth from Tiruvarur district died after attempting self-immolation during a protest against Karnataka in Chennai even as Tamil Nadu is observing a state-wide bandh over the Cauvery water dispute on Friday.
Vignesh, a member of the Naam Tamilar Katchi group, doused petrol and set himself on fire as his party was a holding a protest march from Pudupet to Egmore on Thursday, condemning the recent acts of violence against Tamils in Karnataka.
The youth was rushed to Kilpauk Government hospital with 93% burns and died Friday morning. He has left a suicide note mentioning about imposition of Sanskrit in Tamil Nadu and the Cauvery water sharing. The protest was being led by Naam Tamilar Katchi president N Seeman. Tamil Nadu is observing a day-long bandh on Friday with support from several political parties and Tamil outfits.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to his counterpart J Jayalalithaa requesting her to ensure protection of the lives and properties of Kannada speaking people.
“I am deeply concerned that certain organisations have called for a bandh in Tamil Nadu tomorrow. You would agree that any escalation of animosity between the two states would be to the collective detriment of both the states,” he said in his letter, a copy of which was released to the media. “I would request you to kindly take all steps to ensure that during the so-called bandh on 16.09.2016, no untoward incident takes place and the lives and properties of Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu are protected,” it added.
Siddaramaiah also requested her to issue an advisory to the media to report “responsibly” the incidents relating to the Cauvery agitation as was done by his government. The bandh has been called by farmers’ and traders’ bodies tomorrow to protest against the “violence” targeting Tamils in Karnataka and seek a long-term solution to the water sharing issue. It is supported by DMK, MDMK, PMK, CPI(M), CPI and others.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are locked in a bruising dispute over the quantum of Cauvery waters to be shared. The fight has seen large-scale violence across Karnataka – especially in Bengaluru – where rampaging mobs have torched vehicles and damages property worth crores.