Police told to stay vigilant on overstaying foreign nationals in Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah
Chamarajanagara (Karnataka), Apr 24 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the police have been instructed to remain vigilant about foreign nationals overstaying in the state.
His comments come against the backdrop of the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam that left at least 26 people dead on Tuesday.
"I have told the police to remain cautious," Siddaramaiah told reporters in response to a question about surveillance on foreign nationals overstaying in the state.
Speaking on the terror incident, he said the attack was condemnable, heinous, and inhuman.
He added that the central government should ensure such incidents do not recur, and that terrorists, irrespective of religion or caste, must be eliminated.
He also said his party and government will extend full cooperation in this regard.
In response to another question, the CM said his government is ready to implement the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery River as soon as the central government grants the necessary approvals.
"We are ready to implement the Mekedatu project. The central government has to approve it. If they approve it today, we will start implementation tomorrow," he said, adding that despite meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the matter, no progress has been made.
Mekedatu is a multi-purpose (drinking water and power) project proposed by Karnataka. It involves building a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in the Ramanagara district with a capacity of 67.16 tmcft. Tamil Nadu has opposed the project, citing concerns that it could impact the state’s water share.
Once completed, the project aims to supply 4.75 tmcft of drinking water to Bengaluru and nearby areas and generate 400 MW of power, according to Karnataka officials.
Alleging that the Centre often withholds the state's share of funds, the CM said even announced allocations are not being released.
"Rs 5,300 crore was announced for the Upper Bhadra project in 2023-24, but not a single rupee has been released. It was announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech when Basavaraj Bommai was the Chief Minister," he said.
Asked if this amounted to a political vendetta, Siddaramaiah said, "It looks like that."
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Visually impaired student from J-K Zainab Bilal scores 95% in CBSE class 10 exams
Zainab among first to write CBSE exam on laptop without scribe
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Srinagar (PTI): A visually impaired student in Srinagar has scripted an inspiring story by securing 95 per cent marks in the Class 10 board examination conducted by the Central Board of School Education, the results of which were declared on Wednesday.
Zainab Bilal, who aspires to study computer applications, scored 475 out of 500, with a perfect 100 per cent in computer science.
“Since my childhood, I have wanted to get into the information technology sector. I intend to do my bachelor’s degree in computer applications,” said Zainab, who became one of the first visually impaired students to write the CBSE examination using a laptop, without the assistance of a scribe.
VIDEO | Srinagar: Meet Zainab Bilal, a visually impaired teenager who has scored 95 per cent in the CBSE Class 10 board examinations, redefining resilience.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 16, 2026
A student of the Learning Resource Centre at Delhi Public School, she thanked her teachers for helping her overcome… pic.twitter.com/V9LPr9VI2z
The 16-year-old, who studied at the Learning Resource Centre of Delhi Public School in Srinagar, thanked the institution and her teachers for their support in achieving her goals.
“I am thankful to Vijay Dhar (owner of the school) and my teachers for their support. I do not have words to thank my parents, who have been the biggest support of my life,” she said.
In a message to parents of physically challenged children, Zainab said they should not give up on their kids.
“If I can do it, anyone can. They just need your support,” she said.
Zainab has been outstanding in extracurricular activities as well. She interviewed Omar Abdullah and Bollywood superstar Amir Khan when she was just 12. They were aired on Radio DPS, a radio station operated by the students of the school.
