Will implement Mekedatu project notwithstanding any opposition from TN: Karnataka
Annamalai going on fast is not my concern, says CM Bommai
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday maintained that the state will get the Centre's approval and implement the Mekedatu drinking water project over the Cauvery river, notwithstanding any opposition from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
His comments came in the wake of newly-appointed Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai announcing that the state unit of the saffron party would protest against Karnataka's decision to go ahead with the Mekedatu project.
"He (Annamalai) will do his job. That is not related to us. Annamalai going on a fast is not my business," Bommai told reporters here.
He said Karnataka has all the rights over the river water and will definitely implement the Mekedatu project.
The state government has prepared a detailed project report and submitted it to the Centre for approval, Bommai said.
"We will get the approval for it. Let anyone fast or eat," he added.
The Tamil Nadu BJP has planned to observe a daylong fast in the Cauvery delta region on August 5 to protest against the decision of Karnataka, which is also ruled by the saffron party, to start the Mekedatu project.
On the second day of his first Delhi visit as chief minister, Bommai called on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.
He visited Raj Ghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and also paid tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial Sadaiv Atal.
Bommai, who was elected as the new leader of the BJP legislature party in Karnataka on Tuesday following B S Yediyurappa's resignation, took oath as the chief minister on Wednesday.
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Three arrested for killing Buddhist woman monk in Himachal
Shimla (PTI): Three people have been arrested for allegedly murdering a Buddhist woman monk in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh nearly a month ago, police said on Friday.
The accused -- Gagan Sharma (23), Vishal (23) and Gaurav Sharma (20), all residents of Mandi -- were arrested on Thursday night, police said.
According to police, the 78-year-old Buddhist woman monk, Orje Shoki, was found murdered in a cave near Sarkidhar village, following which a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to nab the accused.
Mandi Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinod Kumar said that during the investigation, more than 50 suspects were questioned and DNA samples of several suspects were also collected.
After a detailed investigation, the accused were arrested from different locations on Thursday night, he said.
Kumar said all the accused are drug addicts and they committed the crime with the intention of looting the victim, so that they could buy drugs.
Efforts are on to nab two more accused wanted in the case. They will be put behind bars soon, the SP said.
