Mekedatu Padayatra: Action as per law for COVID rules violation, says CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Jan 9: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said action will be taken in accordance with law, as he hit out at Congress leaders for going ahead with 'padayatra' (march), demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river, by violating government's COVID-19 restrictions.
The Chief Minister also accused the grand old party of playing politics on the Mekedatu issue, instead of behaving like a responsible opposition.
"I have called a meeting of important leaders of our party and senior Ministers, where we will discuss several issues including Bengaluru development, Mekedatu project and the padayatra," Bommai said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, Congress is fully aware of the consequences of what they are doing, but politics seems to be more important for them.
"When cases regarding the project are pending, as a responsible political party, who have been earlier in power, and being fully aware of the system, the law, what inter-state water dispute is, court and tribunal orders, they should not have gone ahead with the padayatra, but politics seems to be important for them, people will decide," Bommai said.
Regarding violation of COVID norms, a notice has been issued to them and officials have personally advised them against it, he said, adding that "but they have neglected it and are going ahead, we will take action in accordance with law."
The Congress today began its 10 days padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru, despite the government's COVID-19 restrictions and warnings.
Led by Congress' state president D K Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Siddaramaiah, the padayatra with the theme 'Namma Neeru Namma Hakku' (Our water, Our right) began at the Sangama, the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers in Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, which will be spanning a distance of 139 kms.
Hitting out at the Congress for the padayatra, the Chief Minister accused it of not putting any efforts to take the Mekedatu project forward while in power as it lacked commitment.
"They (Congress) were in power for five years, they could not submit a DPR (Detailed Project Report) properly, the DPR was submitted during the coalition government, even then they didn't have any commitment, D K Shivakumar, who was Irrigation Minister during the coalition government, failed to take it forward," he said.
The Congress did not take up the issue during the last three years, but are now doing a political padayatra ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, Bommai said, adding "they are suffering with guilty consciousness, hence they are trying to misguide the people. It is purely politically motivated Congress padayatra."
Pointing out that the Congress had organised a similar padayatra in the past, regarding Krishna river and made several promises, but failed to fulfil it while in power, he accused them of misguiding the people and that the public will not fall for it.
The Mekedatu multipurpose (drinking and power) project, involves building a balancing reservoir, near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district of Karnataka, to which neighbouring Tamil Nadu is vehemently opposed to.
The project once completed is aimed at ensuring drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas (4.75 TMC) and also can generate 400 MW power, and the estimated cost of the project is Rs 9,000 crore.
Further noting that the BJP is committed to implement the project and after it came to power the DPR has gone from Central Water Commission (CWC) to Cauvery Monitoring Board for approval, the Chief Minister said, a meeting is likely to be held this month during which decisions may be taken.
"Cases regarding the project are also likely this month in the Supreme Court, we are following with our legal team. We are also working regarding environmental clearance," he added.
Meanwhile, expressing dismay that the Congress leaders were behaving in a very irresponsible manner, by undertaking a Padayatra, and not heeding to the fear of spreading the COVID disease, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said that the law will take its own course for violating the restrictions.
Informing that the district administration will take appropriate actions in maintaining peace and law and order in the district, he denied that the government has softened it's stand on the padayatra.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
