Film artists protest against Cauvery Tribunal verdict

Bangalore, Feb 13 (UNI) After the Karnataka 'bandh' that brought life to a standstill yesterday, hundreds of film stars from the Kannada filmdom today took out a procession in the city against the Cauvery River Dispute Tribunal verdict.

Apart from top stars like Vishnuvardhan, Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar and Punit Rajkumar, three siblings of late super star Rajkumar -- Tara, Malashri, Jayanti -- and scores of other stars, belonging to both the present and yesteryears, joined the procession from the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) to the Raj Bhawan.

Besides actors, film producers, dxhibitors, distributors, stunt artists, directors and dancers also took part in the procession amid tight security.

A 2000-strong police force, including RAF personnel, were present as the rally went on a peaceful march.

Slogans like 'Cauvery Nammadu' (Cauvery river is ours) rent the air even as the rallyists decried the Tribunal verdict which they said was biased against the state.

KFCC Chairman Tallam Nanjunda Shetty said the film world stood solidly behind the organisations that had launched the agitation against the Tribunal verdict and would fight till justice was done to the state.

Busy thoroughfares like the Race Course Road, Kumara Krupa Road and the Raj Bhawan road were closed for traffic till noon.

UNI