Amid water row, Kannadiga chosen to steer Tamil Nadu varsity

The appointment of Karnataka's MK Surappa as Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu's prestigious Anna University at a time the two states are locked in a crucial leg of the battle over the waters of Cauvery is being seen as the proverbial insult to injury inflicted by the Centre.

Surappa has been granted the charge after the Centre failed to form Cauvery Management Board (CMB), despite Tamil Nadu's vehement insistence, citing the potential for a law and order situation in poll-bound Karnataka.

Tamil Nadu's main opposition party DMK's working president MK Stalin called the appointment of Surappa "unacceptable" at a time when the Cauvery issue is at its crest. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Stalin issued a rebuke against 'saffronising' of state's universities by importing vice-chancellors and insulting "sons of the soil".

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit appointed Surappa as Anna University's Vice-Chancellor for three years on Thursday. A former director of IIT-Ropar, Surappa, who has a doctorate in metallurgical engineering, "enjoys rich teaching experience of more than 30 years, of which 24 were spent at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru," a statement released by Raj Bhavan said.

A fortnight ago, the appointment of Dr Tamma Suryanarayana Sastry as vice-chancellor of TN's Ambedkar Law University sparked an uproar with the opposition calling him an RSS supporter.

PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, however, said "The centre refused to give him an extension citing his long absence from work, poor decision-making and disregard for subordinates". He said the appointment disrespects the feelings of Tamil people.

MNM chief Kamal Haasan tweeted, "We asked for water from Karnataka and got a vice-chancellor. The gulf between people and the government cannot be more obvious."