Mandya: Actress Ragini Dwivedi’s visit to Mandya on Friday for the promotion of her upcoming film led to a controversy after protesting farmers expressed disappointment over her refusal to comment on the ongoing Cauvery agitation.Ragini visited Sanjay Theater as part of her film’s promotional campaign. During her visit, farmers participating in the Cauvery protest invited the actress to join their demonstration and express solidarity with the state’s farmers. However, she left the venue without stepping out of her car, drawing criticism from the protesters.The agitating farmers alleged that the actress ignored their appeal and demanded that artistes associated with the Kannada film industry stand with the state’s farmers during the Cauvery dispute. Some protesters also called for a boycott of films featuring artistes who, according to them, do not support Karnataka’s interests on issues concerning the state’s land, language and water.Responding to the controversy, Ragini said that water is a natural resource and that access to drinking water is a basic right for everyone. The actress added that she was not sufficiently informed about the dispute and came to Mandya only to promote her film.
