Mahadayi dispute: Goa delegation to meet PM to oppose approval to DPRs for Karnataka dams
Panaji(PTI): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said he will soon lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat opposing the approval granted by the Centre to Karnataka for detailed project reports (DPRs) of two dams on Mahadayi River.
Goa and Karnataka have been engaged in a dispute for several years now over the distribution of the Mahadayi River water.
Sawant on Monday called for a special cabinet meeting to discuss the issue after Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai announced the Centre has given clearance for DPRs of two dams on Mahadayi river.
"The Goa government will not compromise on the Mahadayi river issue. The construction of dams at Kalsa and Bhandura will affect drinking water requirement of the people living in North Goa district," Sawant said.
"The state cabinet has decided to lead all legislative party delegation to the PM, Union Home Minister and Jal Shakti ministry to express opposition to the approval granted for dam DPRs. The opposition should not create issues for the sake of opposition. Everyone should be united as Mahadayi is a lifeline for us. I again reiterate, Mahadayi is like a mother to me," Sawant added.
Sawant said the approval granted for the DPR is an in-principal one as Karnataka will have to get permission from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
This (MoEF&CC) approval will not be possible as the Mahadayi River runs through a wildlife sanctuary, Sawant asserted.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
