CHENNAI: Leading Tamil actress Asin may be “banned” by the South Indian Artistes’ Association (SIAA) for her “non-cooperation” during a protest hunger strike against Karnataka, association’s general secretary M R Radha Ravi said yesterday.
“The buck has to stop somewhere. A decision will be taken by (SIAA president) Sarath Kumar on his return later this week, against film personalities who did not join the protest and failed to offer an acceptable explanation. Asin is one of several people who have not offered plausible explanations for their absence from the hunger strike. We also are awaiting explanations from actors Napoleon, Karthik and Radhika who too failed to turn up,” Ravi said.
Film industry sources said Asin is being threatened since she has no political godfathers. They said the move is aimed at forcing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to take strong action on the controversial Rs13.3bn Hogenekkal water project, which is opposed by Karnataka. The chief minister has suspended the project until assembly elections in Karnataka are over in May.
Tamil film industry activists had observed a day’s hunger strike on April 4 to express their anger against attacks on Tamil establishments in Bangalore, allegedly by pro-Kannada activists, against Tamil Nadu’s plan to set up the drinking water supply project at Hogenekkal waterfall on the border of the two states. –  IANS