The final verdict on the Cauvery water dispute, a bone of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, was delivered on Friday. The judgement was pronounced by a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar, ordering Karnataka to release 177.25 tmcft instead of 192 tmcft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam.
Soon after, actor and to-be-politician Rajinikanth, expressed his disappointment with the verdict, adding that it would affect the livelihood of Tamil Nadu farmers.
காவிரி நீர் பங்கீட்டில் உச்சநீதிமன்றத்தின் இறுதி தீர்ப்பு தமிழக விவசாயிகளின் வாழ்வாதாரத்தை மேலும் பாதிப்பதாக உள்ளதால் மிகுந்த ஏமாற்றமளிக்கிறது.மறு பரிசீலனை மனு தாக்கல் செய்ய தமிழகஅரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.
— Rajinikanth (@superstarrajini) February 16, 2018
The actor garnered unwavering support from his fans on social media, even making the hashtag #WeStandWithRajinikanth trend all over India.
#westandwithrajinikanth is now trending in Indiahttps://t.co/CepQKdxq0u pic.twitter.com/BHSv0qc4l3
— Trendsmap India (@TrendsmapIndia) February 17, 2018
Now Reached 34,000 Tweets #WeStandWithRajinikanth
Power Of Thalaivar Fans ?@RIAZtheboss @v4umedia1 pic.twitter.com/xwG0Yi6Y2e
— Superstar Fans Club (@Rajini_RFC) February 17, 2018
Trend Alert: #WeStandWithRajinikanth. More trends at https://t.co/LZ0lSnKin9 #trndnl pic.twitter.com/ElW8YrZrK6
— Trendinalia India (@trendinaliaIN) February 17, 2018
Happy to see such a massive support for @superstarrajini… He has bought entyr #TamilNadu together…. I dont see any1 else bttr dan SUPERSTAR RAJINI as CM of TAMIL NADU….#WeStandWithRajinikanth
— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) February 17, 2018
The support from his fans on social media managed to overshadow the fact that several pro-Kannada organisations were protesting against Rajinikanth’s opinion on the verdict. Some even burnt effigies of the actor.
Karnataka: Pro-Kannada organisation burnt effigy of Rajinikanth in Ramanagara earlier today in protest against his statement on #CauveryVerdict; Rajinikath yesterday said ‘#CauveryVerdict is disappointing as it will further affect the livelihood of farmers in Tamil Nadu’ pic.twitter.com/RNUGl1cveO
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018
Kamal Haasan, who is also making his political plunge, expressed his shock at the verdict but still sided with the Supreme Court.
“I am also shocked at the reduction in the supply of water. I have to get more details about the actual judgement but I think the Supreme Court firmly said that water cannot be owned by any state. That’s a consoling factor,” Haasan said at a press conference.
