Bengaluru, Jul 12: Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday reffirmed that the state will not stop the Mekedatu drinking water project across Cauvery river, which is opposed by neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The opposition Congress in the State said it would stand with the government if it performs the groundbreaking ceremony.

"We have already submitted the Detailed Project Report to the Central Water Commission.This project is related to utilising the additional water for drinking purpose.Karnataka has every right to commission this project," Bommai said in a statement.

"There is no reason to stop the Mekedatu drinking water project. We will certainly implement it," he added.

According to Bommai, already an order related to the Cauvery water sharing has come, which has given guidelines on how and when the Cauvery water should be released for Tamil Nadu.

Congress Karnataka unit president D K Shivakumar extended his support to the Mekedatu project.

"Let the government do the 'Bhumi Puja' for Mekedatu project tomorrow itself, we stand with the government," Shivakumar said in a statement.

Stating that Tamil Nadu will keep on creating controversies with regard to Mekedatu even after 100 years, Shivakumar wondered why the BJP government was not using its status of "double engine government" at the Centre and the state to finish the project.

He even promised to keep aside all political issues and stand with the government.

Shivakumar said "All political parties of Tamil Nadu have a common agenda of opposing the Mekedatu project.Their agenda will remain same even after 100 years.'

"Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa needs political will power to take up the Mekedatu project," the state Congress chief said.

"It's our money, our place and our water.Tamil nadu has no say on this," he added.

Stating that Mekedatu project comes under Kanakapura assembly constituency, which he represents, Shivakumar said the water will be used for Bengaluru and for electricity generation.

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Bengaluru: The Indian National Congress has taken sharp aim at senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) for allegedly making contradictory statements regarding the caste census. Former Indian Youth Congress President Srinivas BV, in a social media post, highlighted a series of U-turns by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy.

In his statement, Srinivas BV referred to them as the “Ghajini Brothers of Karnataka politics,” alluding to their frequent changes in position, and suggesting they suffer from political amnesia. Highlighting their contradictory statements, he remarked that one day they term the caste census as "dangerous," and the next, they celebrate it as "historic." With sharp sarcasm, he added that at this rate, even Ghajini might ask them for memory lessons.

The Congress also released a digital poster under the theme "U-Turn MPs", showcasing contrasting remarks by the two leaders.

 

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s statements:

On October 31, 2023, Surya stated: “Caste-based divisions have had an adverse impact on society. Hindu reformers have unequivocally condemned them. In this age, it is incumbent upon us to unite, rather than further divide ourselves on the basis of caste.”

In a more recent post, he expressed support for the Union Government’s decision: “Welcome the historic decision of Shri Narendra Modi-led NDA government to include caste enumeration in the census exercise.”

JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s remarks:

Initially, Kumaraswamy had questioned the motives behind the exercise: “Caste Census or Census of Hatred? What is it really—a caste census or a census of hate?”

Subsequently, he welcomed the same decision: “A historic and visionary decision under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi; caste enumeration will now be part of the upcoming national census for the first time since 1931.”

The Congress has used these statements to argue that the BJP and JD(S) are not consistent in their approach to socially sensitive issues like caste enumeration. According to party leaders, such shifting positions reflect political opportunism rather than principled leadership.