The Centre has decided to call a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers soon to resolve the issue regarding the proposed construction of Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river that led to stalling of Parliament proceedings last week.

The issue was discussed in detail by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in a meeting with Union Water resources and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday in Delhi.

“In the meeting, Gadkari said he was convinced that the Mekedatu project will benefit Tamil Nadu. The minister also assured that he will direct his officials to fix a meeting of chief ministers of the two states at the earliest,” an official spokesperson of the Karnataka government told reporters.

The Mahadayi water dispute between Karnataka and Goa was discussed in the meeting, but the Union minister said the matter is in court, he added.

Mr Gadkari has said he will call the meeting of chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to discuss the implementation of the project, according to an official statement.

The Karnataka chief minister during the meeting brought to his notice that Tamil Nadu has raised objection against the project though it is beneficial to both states, especially for Tamil Nadu, the statement added.

He also requested Mr Gadkari to resolve the issue by calling the meetings of the chief ministers. “Gadkari obliged to call a meeting accordingly,” it said.

Mr Kumaraswamy told PTI that “we have asked the Centre to call for a meeting with the Tamil Nadu government so that the issue can be resolved.”

With the two main Tamil Nadu parties — AIADMK and DMK — protesting in Parliament opposing the Mekedatu project, Karnataka lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have planned an agitation Thursday in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to counter the two parties.

The AIADMK and the DMK are agitating in both Houses of Parliament pressing for scrapping of the proposed dam project.

The Tamil Nadu government has also appealed in the Supreme Court on the matter.

Mr Kumaraswamy’s brother and PWD Minister HD Revanna as well as Karnataka Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar were also present in the meeting in Delhi.

Besides, these two water disputes, the Karnataka chief minister also discussed with the Union minister about the pending national highway projects in the state.

He sought commencement of the construction of the six-lane Bengaluru-Mysure Road, for which the Karnataka government has already acquired 85 per cent of the required land.

The chief minister requested Mr Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of the Bengaluru-Hassan section of the NH-75.

Mr Kumaraswamy also urged the Union minister to ask the NHAI to complete the work between Hassan to Gundya via Sakaleshpura (NH-75) and four-laning of the NH-206 from Tumkur-Honnavara.

The chief minister also sought the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway between Hassan to Holenarasipur and sanction of a six-lane elevated highway in Hassan town limit on Belur-Bilikere of the NH-373.

PTI

Newly inducted ministers of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition cabinet is likely to be announced Thursday, party leaders said, as they grappled with problems of dissent and portfolio allocation.

The leaders also sought to downplay the dissidence within the party, even as efforts were on to quell the disgruntlement that had emerged after the recent rejig.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal held a series of meetings on portfolio allocation, which has become another concern as the new ministers lobbied for plum departments.

Several senior ministers were not willing to shed key portfolios they have, adding to the worry, party sources said.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, pradesh congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara among others, Venugopal said the portfolio list is being sent to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, for his approval.

“On portfolio allocation of new ministers, I have discussed with the leaders and took their view. It will now begoing for the approval of the Congress President, who will clear it very soon,” he said.

Terming the meeting as “fruitful”, Rao said Venugopal was likely to meet Gandhi Wednesday evening or night in Delhi, and he will finalise the portfolio allocation.

He said reports about ministers holding two or three portfolios not willing to give up some key departments for others, were “unnecessary speculation.”

According to reports, the meeting between top party leaders Wednesday was not cordial, as Parameshwara expressed displeasure over being asked to give up some key portfolios that he has, by Siddaramaiah.

He currently has departments of Home, Bengaluru city related affairs, Youth Affairs and Sports.

Denying such reports, Rao said “Everything has been discussed in a very good manner, I too saw reports about some clash.. they are all baseless.Some sections of media have also said that portfolios have been decided and they are outwith a list.

From our side all proposals are there, ultimate decision will be taken by Congress President Rahul Gandhi in consultation with Venugopal and us. I think by tomorrow youwill have the announcement,” he added.

The leaders also sought to downplay Ramesh Jarkiholi’s threat to quit as party MLA, sulking over being dropped as minister, and open expression of displeasure by another senior legislator Ramalinga Reddy on not being considered during Ministry expansion.

“You don’t worry about anything, our house is very much intact, everybody will be in Congress itself and nothing will happen,” Venugopal said in response to a question.

Calling Ramesh Jarkiholi a “good leader”, he expressed confidence that he will remain in the Congress.

Reddy is also a “loyal” Congress leader, the party general secretary said, adding that “definitely, we will honour him and nothing will happen.”

In an effort to quell the dissidence, Siddaramaiah had on Tuesday met Reddy and tried to pacify him, but did not meetwith success with Ramesh Jarkiholi who is incommunicado.

According to Congress sources, Venugopal, who met a delegation of Reddy’s supporters including Bengaluru Mayor and corporators, convinced them to wait till Lok Sabha polls.

However, he has given the task of convincing Ramesh Jarkiholi to his brother and newly inducted Minister Satish Jarkiholi.

“I will meet him (Ramesh) today or tomorrow. I will find him and meet him,” Satish Jarkiholi told reporters.

As Ramesh Jarkiholi is likely to make public his decision to quit as Congress MLA Thursday, Rao, describing him “hundred per cent Congress man”, said he has got “Congress blood in him, so I don’t see him going to a communal party like BJP.”

Ramesh Jarkiholi, accused of hobnobbing with the BJP, along with R Shankar, an Independent lawmaker who showed reluctance to be an associate member of the Congress, were dropped during the rejig.

In the much-awaited exercise, the six-month old Congress-JD(S) coalition ministry headed by Kumaraswamy was expanded Saturday with the induction of eight members from the national party.

Agencies

New Delhi, As usual, the Lok Sabha proceedings were again disrupted on Thursday as vociferous protests and sloganeering over various issues forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House till noon.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day without transacting any business after ruckus in the House over issues ranging from construction of a dam on the Cauvery River to violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district.In the LS, despite repeated warnings from Mahajan, Congress, AIADMK and TDP members continued to stand in the Well of the House and sought to raise various issues, including Rafale deal. Soon after the Question Hour began, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wanted to raise the issue of Rafale deal but Mahajan said the matter can be raised during the Zero Hour.Besides Congress members who were demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the deal,

Those from AIADMK protested against the construction of a dam across Cauvery River. TDP members sought to raise issues related to Andhra Pradesh.

PTI

 

[Nasheman news] Jaipur,  Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh on early Thursday allocated portfolios to the Council of Ministers, three days after 23 ministers took oath, officials said.

The allocation of portfolios took place at 2 a.m., a statement said. 

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has kept key departments including Home, Finance and Personnel with him, while Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot gets PWD and Rural Development, the statement said.

General Administration, Information Technology and Telecommunications are also with Gehlot while Science and Technology, and Statistics have been allotted to Pilot.

Nasheman News : Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari will convene a meeting of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers on the implementation of the controversial Cauvery river project at Mekedatu for drinking water supply, said an official on Wednesday.

“Gadkari conveyed the decision on the proposed meeting to Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy when they met in New Delhi,” said an official of the Chief Minister’s Office in Bengaluru in a statement.

Karnataka has sought the Central government’s approval to build a dam at Mekedatu on the river near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district, about 100km southwest of Bengaluru, for storing and supplying its water to the parched districts of Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts.

Objecting to the project fearing denial of its share of the river water, Tamil Nadu has also petitioned the Central government and the Supreme Court not to allow Karnataka to build the balancing reservoir at the goat’s leap gorge.

“Kumaraswamy has sought Gadkari’s intervention to resolve the issue between the two riparian states and convince Tamil Nadu that the project would be beneficial to both the neighbouring states,” said the statement.

As sharing the river water for agriculture and drinking in the state’s old Mysuru region became contentious, leading to the apex court modifying the inter-state dispute tribunal award, storing it (water) at Mekedatu for drinking only has turned into a protracted legal and political battle.

“Tamil Nadu is objecting central permission in mid-November to Karnataka to even prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for building the dam on the grounds that storing water would deny its share for its farmers in the delta region,” an official of the state Water Resources Department told IANS here.

The project is estimated to cost the state a whopping Rs 5,192 crore.

Tamil Nadu has also disputed Karnataka’s claim on the project’s purpose, as storing the river water will allow it generate hydel power and thus restrict its flow into its delta region.

Kumaraswamy also sought Gadkari’s intervention to make Goa allow Karnataka utilise the Mahadayi river water for drinking purpose in the four drought-prone districts in the state’s northwest region.

“Though the inter-state river tribunal has permitted Karnataka to utilise the water for drinking purpose, the Goa government has approached the top court against the tribunal award, which is in the state’s favour,” said the official.

In a related development, Gadkari, who is also the Surface Transport Minister, has agreed to build an elevated highway between Hubballi and Dharwad, about 400km from Bengaluru to ease the gridlock between the twin cities in the state’s northwest region.

“Gadkari has directed the state government to complete the land acquisition to allow the state-run National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to begin the elevated road projected work,” added the statement.

State PWD Minister and Kumaraswamy’s elder brother H.D. Revanna, state Chief Secretary T.M. Vijayabhaskar and Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister E.V. Ramana Reddy were present on the occasion.

 Nasheman News : A day after abusing a journalist, and threatening him of “smashing his head”, Lok Sabha MP Moulana Badaruddin Ajmal expressed his apologies on Thursday, saying he respects media persons.

Ajmal, a Lok Sabha MP from Assam’s Dhubri constituency, landed himself in a controversy on Wednesday over the episode.

Ajmal, who leads the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), faced condemnation from from different sections over the incident. Several media organisations have threatened to file FIRs against him.

Apologising over the episode, Ajmal, who is also a perfume trader, wrote on Twitter: “Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and I have always respected media persons and everyone knows that. I have sincere regards for them. The Mankachar incident was an unintentional aberration and I sincerely apologize for that to all concerned.”

Guwahati-based Digital Media Journalist Association of Assam (DiMJAA) has said it will file an FIR against Ajmal on Thursday.

Members of the media fraternity also staged a protest on Thursday at Dispur Press Club, wearing black badge.

The AIUDF chief got agitated on Wednesday when a journalist asked him if he will side with the party that comes to power in New Delhi.

He was addressing a press conference at Mankachar to honour the AIUDF leaders who won in the recently held rural polls in Assam.

Ajmal not only verbally abused the journalist but also asked him to get out of the venue. 

“I’ll smash your head,” he said, while snatching the boom of the journalist.

Nasheman News : Three siblings from Telangana were killed in a devastating house fire in Collierville town in Tennessee in the United States, according to the family.

The missionary students were identified as Sathwika Naik (16), Jaya Naik (13) and their brother Suhan Naik (14). The three siblings hailed from Nalgonda district. 

Kari Coudriet (46), in whose house the teenagers were celebrating Christmas, was also killed in the fire that broke out around 11 p.m. Sunday (local time). Her husband Danny Coudriet and son Cole survived the blaze.

The four victims were said to be asleep when the fire broke out, apparently due to a short-circuit.

The teenagers, who were studying at French Camp Academy in Mississippi, had come to Coudriets’ house for the holidays at their invitation.

Their parents, Srinivas Naik and Sujatha Naik, had recently shifted back to India.

“The Naik family are missionaries in India that our church supports,” said a statement by Coudriet’s Collierville Bible Church.

The Coudriet family was celebrating Christmas with the three teenagers.

“At this time, we are asking for privacy and discretion regarding the missionary children. The family is in route from India and many of the details of the events are still being communicated to the family. Please respect this family and give them the time and ability to process information before posting any details on all media and social media outlets,” said a Facebook post by the Church.

A pall of gloom descended on the ancestral house of the Naik family in Gurraputhanda in Neredugommu Mandal (block) in Nalgonda district. 

Grieving relatives appealed to the Telangana government for help in bringing the bodies back home.

Nasheman News : Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has said it was “very difficult” to predict the country’s next Prime Minister in view of the current political situation.

Noting that he was “not focussed” on politics, the 53-year-old yoga guru said he would not support or oppose anyone in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Talking to reporters at the airport here Tuesday, Ramdev said, “We can’t say who will become the next prime minister (after the 2019 general elections).”

“We do not have a political or religious agenda… We want to make a spiritual India and world… Not Hindu India or communal India,” he added.

His comments come days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a big blow as it lost power in its earlier ruled Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The Congress won convincingly in Chhattisgarh, less so in Rajasthan and edged out the saffron party in a cliffhanger in Madhya Pradesh.

Referring to the Ayodhya dispute, Ramdev claimed that the BJP would lose trust if the ‘Ram Mandir’ was not built in Ayodhya now.

The yoga guru was in the state to attend a national executive meeting of Bharat Swabhiman in Rameswaram.

On Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah’s remarks on mob violence in Uttar Pradesh, Ramdev said, “accusing India of religious intolerance amounts to degrading the country’s pride”.

The charge that country was religiously intolerant was tantamount to “ungratefulness, disrespect and treason,” he added.

Apparently referring to the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, Shah had said that at many places in the country the “death of a cow is being given more importance than the killing of a policeman”.

The veteran actor had also expressed anxiety over the well-being of his children, who he said, have not been brought up as followers of any particular religion.

The violence, which occurred earlier this month over an incident of alleged cow slaughter, had claimed two lives, including that of a police inspector. 

B Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday, December 25 expressed his disappointment at not being invited for the inauguration of the country’s longest railroad bridge in Assam though he had laid the foundation stone of it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, December 25 inaugurated the 4.9 km long bridge at Bogibeel across Brahmaputra river, built at a cost of Rs 5,900 crore. The foundation stone for the project was laid by Gowda when he was the prime minister in 1997.

“Railway line to Kashmir, Delhi Metro and Bogibeel railroad bridge were among the projects I had sanctioned (as prime minister). I had sanctioned the budget of Rs 100 crore for each of these projects and laid their foundation stones. People have forgotten me today,” Gowda said.

Replying to a question from reporters on the sidelines of a function here as to how he felt about the inauguration of the project started by him, the former prime minister said he had given the nod for many projects.

To a question whether he received an invitation, Gowda quipped, “Aiyo Rama! Who will remember me? Some newspapers might have mentioned about it.”

On the enormous delay in completing the project, he said, “That is where I differ. I completed the Hassan-Mysuru project in 13 months. I completed two bridges on time.

“Some people from Bombay Karnataka region say that Deve Gowda did not do anything (for the north Karnataka region), go and see it,” he added.

PTI