Sought time at BAC meeting to debate Mekedatu issue in Parliament: DMK

Chennai, Jul 20 (PTI) The DMK said it has strongly insisted in the BAC meeting held in Delhi to allot time to discuss in Parliament Karnataka's bid to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu. In the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, the party also opposed the inclusion of the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 in this session, it said. DMK Rajya Sabha MP, P Wilson, in a post on 'X' on Sunday said: "Following the instructions of DMK President MK Stalin, during the BAC meeting for the Lok Sabha, which manages the legislative timetable and allocates time for debates and discussions in the house, we have strongly insisted allocation of time to discuss the Karnataka state's intention to construct the Mekadatu dam and the request of TN for formation of a tribunal in this regard". The proposal of the neighbouring state, if fructifies, would seriously affect the interests of the farmers and people of Tamil Nadu, he alleged. Further, he said: "DMK registered its protest in the BAC meeting that stakeholders and religious institutions affected by the draconian FCRA Bill have not been consulted till today. The DMK strongly expressed its opposition to moving the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 in this parliamentary session." PTI VGN KH