Why Tamil Nadu protesters should stop politicising IPL over the Cauvery water dispute

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made a perfect comeback to the IPL by winning their second match against Kolkata Knight Riders, after chasing down a steep target of 202. Sam Billings had played a blinder and Dwayne Bravo was putting on the finishing touches as he ensured CSK got the 17 runs required off the last over.

The crowd inside the Chepauk Stadium was going berserk with joy. After two disappointing years, this was their moment of happiness and redemption. But amidst this air of celebration, a very different subtext was also unfolding at the same time. In the eighth over of the match, a shoe was hurled by the spectators at CSK player Ravindra Jadeja. The shoe landed near the boundary line, very close to the South African captain Faf Du Plessis and his national teammate Lungi Ngidi who were taking a stroll. The police intervened -- two people were immediately arrested in connection with the incident and three others from the group were also detained for raising 'We want Cauvery' slogans. A couple of shoes were also thrown which landed within the stands and it is difficult to ascertain if any player was specifically targeted. In fact, CSK's homecoming after two seasons has been marred by violent protests with many people across the state demanding IPL matches be cancelled as the state is still reeling under a severe water crisis. Slippers being hurled. (Source: Behindthewoods)

'No IPL until the Cauvery dispute gets resolved'

For the last few days, Tamil Nadu has been rocked by anti-IPL protests with many people claiming that holding the tournament without addressing the more pressing concern of the state's water crisis is a case of misplaced priorities. The Cauvery dispute which dates back to 1892 has been a bone of contention between the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for decades now. As per the agreements made in 1892 and 1924, the distribution of water from the Cauvery basin was supposed to be -- 75% to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, 23% to Karnataka, and the rest to Kerala. While any disputes back then were resolved by the British, the disagreement led to conflicts after post-independence re-organisations. While both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are heavily dependent on Cauvery water, the former has often exploited its upper riparian position and refused to release water. Unlike rivers like the Ganga which have mountainous origins, the Cauvery is completely rain-fed which is why both the states are left with a severe water crisis whenever there is a poor monsoon. Karnataka has often argued that it has every right not to release water to Tamil Nadu if it cannot provide for its own needs. After a Supreme Court ruling in September 2016 asking Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water daily to help Tamil Nadu's drought-hit farmers, riots erupted in Bengaluru in protest. A subsequent SC verdict on February 16 this year announced the amount of water that Karnataka must release to Tamil Nadu and ordered the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Water Management Board to implement the verdict. With the formation of this board well past the deadline as laid down by the Supreme Court, protests have begun in Tamil Nadu demanding that the board is immediately constituted to implement the verdict and give the state its rightful share of Cauvery water. The issue has been further politicised with the Karnataka assembly election just round the corner. Several groups claimed that IPL matches should be called off as it is the most inappropriate moment to organize the tournament in the state. The situation became tense as thousands of activists hit the streets near Chepauk Stadium on Tuesday, demanding that the match between CSK and KKR is cancelled. Security was beefed up, there was a heavy police presence outside the stadium, and many of the protesters were detained. The traffic in the city got disrupted, players struggled to reach the stadium on time, and there were reports of protesters forcing fans to take off their CSK jerseys.

Cauvery dispute and IPL ' a problematic binary?

Any cricket lover can be excused for asking what after all is the relation between the Cauvery dispute and the IPL. Why was the demand to cancel matches for the water dispute raised in the first place? And isn't it an unhealthy attempt to politicise a sporting event? The protesters, which include many politicians, fringe groups, and the common public, have cited several reasons for adopting this strange position. Many have argued that holding the IPL will shift the focus away from the much-needed debate and discourse on the water dispute in the state while others have said it would be disgraceful to celebrate a fun-filled sporting event when farmers are suffering because of the water crisis. The matter has, of course, become deeply politicised with politicians playing along, trying best not to hurt public sentiment, and stroking the fire instead to gain mileage out of it. Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth said it is embarrassing to have Chennai host IPL matches at this time, adding, 'If they don't cancel, they should at least allow players and spectators to wear black badges.' Many protesters have claimed that holding the IPL at a time when farmers are dying and the state is not getting its due from the Centre is absurd and unjust. Interestingly, at a time when the BJP government has incurred the wrath of the protesters, the saffron party in Karnataka tweeted its support for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Political parties in Karnataka, unsurprisingly, have been vocal in their support for the IPL, with the political optics of adopting a position in contradiction to that of Tamil Nadu and expressing a tacit approval of the delay over the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board being so blatant that it cannot be missed. Even the Tamil Nadu government has come under fire from the Opposition and other parties for not doing enough to press the Centre to constitute the Board. The state government has been reiterating that it has been doing its best, holding regular protests and raising the issue at the parliament. Needless to say, all political parties are now trying to exploit the water dispute issue for their narrow political gains. No one seems to be interested in asking what the IPL has to do with the water dispute in general. Or will actors, who protest having an event of entertainment when farmers are dying, agree to suspend films, soaps and theatre till the water dispute is resolved? If it sounds absurd, that's what it is in reality. Should one be stung by pangs of conscience, it is absolutely fine to make a decision at a personal level to stay away from entertainment when persons are dying of hunger and thirst in the state. But to adopt militant tactics and force that down others' throats is to deliberately encourage totalitarian forms of resentment. The IPL, with its brand value and constant media attention, is being used by the protesters as a platform to air their grievances. Amidst the lights and cameras, it is the best way to spread your message and hold the politicians to ransom to act now. The protests across Tamil Nadu for getting its rightful share of Cauvery water should never be undermined. The demands are just, the calls are to implement the Supreme Court verdict with the Centre and Karnataka dillydallying for narrow political benefits. But despite the just cause, protesters do not always choose the right form or path of resistance. It becomes deeply unfortunate when politicians just play along and milk the motions of mobocracy for their own gains. This has turned the IPL into a theatre of protest where horses and pawns, which are completely unrelated to the game of cricket, are competing now. Staying on with the theatre analogy, political theatre in Tamil Nadu has taken a new turn since the death of Jayalalithaa and emergence of new actors now in the form of Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. One only needs to think of what happens in a Shakespearean tragedy when the king dies after a period of stability, leaving a kingdom to rule. Inter feuds within the AIADMK, DMK gaining force again, and a neighbouring state where the Grand Old Party and the BJP will soon locks horns in the assembly polls has scripted a tale of irresponsible populism. And in this theatre of the absurd, IPL has been caught in the crossfire. UPDATE: According to latest reports from the PTI, the IPL matches have been shifted out of Chennai.