Tamil Nadu keeps calm amid flaring tempers

CHENNAI: It was business as usual on Tuesday morning at the New Woodlands Hotel, which was attacked by members of a pro-Tamil group over the ongoing Cauvery dispute

CHENNAI: It was business as usual on Tuesday morning at the New Woodlands Hotel, which was attacked by members of a pro-Tamil group over the ongoing Cauvery dispute that has seen incidents of violence across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

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Breakfast at the hotel, which is part of the Karnataka-based Udupi group, was marked by hushed conversations about the dispute, as well as the tit-for-tat attacks that occurred on Monday.

The only difference in the usual routine of the hotel was the extra guard at the door, and the police checkpoint stationed outside the main entrance. However, it is clear that no one expects a repeat attack.

“If we could solve the Cauvery issue without fighting that would be wonderful,” said a server at the hotel when asked about the attack. “But afraid? No, nothing like that. This is usually what happens when it comes to the Cauvery dispute.”

But across the state, the official mood is tense, with a number of police checkpoints being set up across the city to prevent any further attacks.

Tamil Nadu DGP Thiru Rajendran deployed armed police units and quick response teams across the state border with Karnataka, and interstate buses were halted temporarily.

While the violence in Tamil Nadu has been minimal as compared to Karnataka, experts fear that local parties may try to capitalise on the crisis for political favour with an eye on the upcoming local body polls.