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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Karnataka government begins enumeration of Scheduled Castes to collect empirical data
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the enumeration of Scheduled Castes started on Monday, which will go on till May 17.
The second phase of the exercise will be held between May 19 and 21 and designated camps will be organised as part of this phase for the benefit of those who were left out in the first phase.
The third phase, meant for online registration, will also begin on May 19, and it will go on till May 23. Those who are residing outside their towns can make use of this, Siddaramaiah explained.
Addressing a press conference here, the CM said, "The enumeration of scheduled castes is going on in the state. A one-man commission led by the retired High Court Judge, Justice H N Nagamohan Das, has been constituted. He has been mandated to give a clear report on the sub quota for castes in the SC list".
According to him, the Commission has to submit its report in 60 days. Rs 100 crore will be spent on the exercise and 65,000 teachers will be roped in as enumerators.
Siddaramaiah said the purpose of this exercise is to prepare empirical data on 101 castes in the Scheduled Caste list.
He added that the Supreme Court verdict dated August 1, 2024, in the case of the state of Punjab and others versus Devender Singh and others, upheld the constitutionality of sub-classification within SCs.
"Based on the apex court order, we have formed the Justice Nagamohan Das commission," the Chief Minister said.
Siddaramaiah said there are discrepancies in the status of some scheduled castes. While castes such as Adi Dravida, Adi Karnataka and Adi Andhra are in the 'Left' category in some places, they are in the 'Right' category in other places.
The commission will give clear recommendations and prepare empirical data, he explained.
A mobile application has also been developed and a helpline number (94813 59000) has been allotted for this purpose, Siddaramaiah said. He appealed to the people of SC communities in the state to come forward and make this exercise a success.
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