Hogenakkal issue: Stray incidents of violence in TN

Stray incidents of violence took place in parts of Tamil Nadu, protesting Karnataka's opposition to Hogenakkal water project even after Chief Minister M Karunanidhi announced to put the water project on hold till a new government assumes office in Karnataka.

A Karnataka State Transport Corporation bus was set on fire in the border town of Hosur. Reports reaching in Chennai said over 30 protesters asked the passengers of the bus going from Villupuram to Bangalore to get down before setting it ablaze.

The industrial Hosur town, close to the Karnataka border, wore a deserted look as the otherwise busy town observed a bandh on Saturday.

All the industrial units remained closed and public transport was off the road, reports said.

Volunteers of several youth organisations staged a dharna in front of the BJP state headquarters in Chennai and burned an effigy of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

Over 100 people were taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Earlier on Saturday, Karunanidhi in a statement said his government would "wait" till a popular government was installed in Karnataka after the May assembly polls.

"Let bygones be bygones. Let the future be bright. We will wait till President's rule in Karnakata comes to an end and an elected government assumes charge after the polls. Let us wait for a few days only. I hope that a popular government will understand our demand and abide by the 1998 agreement to implement the scheme," Karunanidhi said.