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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4 of family charred to death in fire at house in Howrah
Howrah (PTI): Four members of a family were charred to death in a fire at their house in West Bengal's Howrah district, officials said on Monday morning.
The incident happened in Sauria village in the Joypur police station area around midnight, they said.
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The deceased were identified as Durjodhan Dolui (72), his son Dudhkumar Dolui (45), daughter-in-law Shibani Dolui (40), and granddaughter Shampa Dolui (15).
An investigation is underway to ascertain how the kuchcha house caught fire, officials said.
Two fire tenders doused the blaze, they said.
The bodies have been sent to a government hospital in Uluberia for post-mortem examination, they said.
The family was very poor, officials said, adding that Dudhkumar also has a son, who works as a migrant labourer outside the state.
