Rajinikanth meets farmers delegation, promises to donate Rs1 crore to link rivers

Actor Rajinikanth has reiterated that he is willing to donate a sum of Rs 1 crore, if the central government makes an effort to interlink all the rivers of the country.

This was disclosed by a delegation of farmers led by Desiya Thenninthiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam (National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturist Association) president Ayyakannu who met reporters after calling on the actor.

Rajinikanth is believed to have expressed support for the farmers after patiently hearing all their problems. Ayyakannu also said that the actor had said that the rivers Mahanadhi, Godavari, Krishna, Palaru and Cauvery must be interlinked. Similarly, he had also said that the river Nethravadhi must be linked to Cauvery. "If all these rivers are interlinked, then there will be a solution to the problems of farmers," he said.

"Rajinikanth offered to give us the money he had promised to donate for the interlinking of rivers to us. He said that he would gladly give the Rs1 crore to us here and now itself. However, we refused to take the money and have asked him to hand the money to the Prime Minister and urge him to start the move to interlink the rivers of the country. He has agreed to do that," Ayyakannu said.

The farmers also said that the actor had expressed his support to their decision to participate in the agitation that is to be carried out by all the farmers of the country in Madhya Pradesh. They said that he had urged them to stage their protest in a peaceful manner.

The news follows the increasing buzz around the actor's rumoured interest in politics. While he has neither affirmed nor denied a political future, sources suggest that Rajinikanth will make an announcement on his upcoming birthday on 12 December.