WATER WOES OR DIVISIVE CONS ?

It is unfortunate that fissiparous tendencies are surfacing in various parts of the republic with the open patronage of the politicians. The Hogenakkal dam controversy embroiling Tamil Nadu and Karnataka - yet again on water issue - is a classic case of how the narrow minded politicians can muddy even clean water in order to fish in the troubled water . Both the Karnataka politicians and their Tamil Nadu have not spared any efforts to cash in on from the fortuitous opportunity to display their unequivocal love for their home states forgetting all federal niceties and the republican spirits. While it is the politically and aggressive BJP leaders – some of whom are desperate to capture power in the state - of Karnataka who threw the gauntlet on the non-issue of Hogenakkal Dam, the Tamil Nadu politicians too sought to capitalise on the issue. On both sides of the border, innocent linguistic minorities were caught in the least expected quagmire, while the politicians of all hues and colours, as usual, enjoyed the hysterical protests and counter-protests.

If India has to remain apiece, such divisive tendencies should not be encouraged by the responsible politicians since they remind us of the pre-colonial period of the country when the so-called princely states used to fight among one another which enabled the British to enslave us very easily. The politicians of national parties must rise above the narrow and parochial political agenda. They should not try to politically sell hatred but try to instill a sense of oneness and unity among the people. But, asking for such idealistic work-culture form our politicians look like asking for moon owing to the thriving hate-campaign in the republic, unleashed by the demagogues.