Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan Will Be Banned In Karnataka If They Are Against Mekedatu Project: Vatal Nagaraj

Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj on Sunday warned Tamil superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan of banning them in Karnataka if they take a Tamil Nadu government's stand on the Mekedatu project.

Speaking to media, Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha chief Nagaraj urged the Kannada actors to extend their support to the Cauvery water issue and North Karnataka farmers' issues.

"I call upon Kannada actors to support the Cauvery protest and farmers' issues in Uttar Karnataka. I urge them to hit streets over the Mekedatu row," he claimed.

Tamil Nadu is against Karnataka's proposal to construct a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu. The DMK, in its Lok Sabha manifesto, promised to stop construction of the project.

The Kannada activist said, "Tamil actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan should ask Chief Minister MK Stalin not to prevent Karnataka from constructing the project. If they could not take this stand, I ask them not to come to Karnataka. We will close Karnataka for them. In case, if they take stand in favour of the Tamil Nadu government, they will be banned from entering Karnataka,"

He further added, "Also, Tamil movies will be banned across Karnataka if the Tamil Nadu government opposes the Mekedatu project."

Karnataka has proposed the Mekedatu project, a multi-purpose endeavor aimed at providing drinking water and power. It entails constructing a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district.

However, Tamil Nadu, the neighbouring state, opposed the project, expressing concerns claiming that it would be affected if the project became a reality.

Once completed, the project aims to supply 4.75 TMC of drinking water to Bengaluru and nearby regions while also generating 400 MW of power. The estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 9,000 crore, based on 2019 rates.