Pro Kannada outfits threaten Rajini

As expected, some of Pro Kannada activists turned against the Superstar Rajinikanth's hard hitting speech favoring the Hogenakkal project and on Saturday burnt his effigy, demanding an unconditional apology from the actor and threatened to boycott his films.

"The actor should render an unconditional apology to the people of Karnataka. Otherwise, we will never allow him inside the State." Karnataka Border Protection Committee leader Vattal Nagaraj said.

Kannada Rakshana Vedhike activists burnt Rajinikanth's effigy at the Mysore Bank Circle for reportedly hitting out at various organisations, which spearheaded the anti-Hogenakkal stir. Rakshana Vedhike men blocked the way on Tumkur road on Saturday day protesting against Rajinikanth's remarks.

The outfit's chief TA Narayana Gouda and Vattal Nagaraj said they would not allow screening of Rajini's films in the state hereafter. They also threatened that they would not allow Rajinikanth to enter Bangalore.

Rajinikanth, while asserting that the issue was being raised in Karnataka in view of assembly elections, had called for nipping the protests in the bud. He was participating in a fast staged by the Tamil Film Industry demanding implementation of the project in Chennai on Friday. The Karnataka Film Industry had staged a dharna on the same day in Bangalore opposing the project.