MB Patil to visit Jayalalithaa in Chennai

Bengaluru: Putting aside differences with neighbouring Tamil Nadu over the sharing of Cauvery river water, Karnataka Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil will visit Chennai next week to enquire about the health of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who has been admitted to Apollo hospital there for treatment.

Since one month, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has been hospitalised and several bigwigs have visited the hospital to enquire about her health. Due to the strained relationship with Tamil Nadu, especially in the last two months following the Cauvery water dispute, politicians from Karnataka, especially from the ruling Congress party, were hesitant to visit Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Patil has discussed this issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and taken his permission to visit Chennai to meet Ms Jayalalithaa, said sources. “Karnataka has taken a positive stand and Mr Patil has decided to visit the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on humanitarian grounds. Since Karnataka has always wanted to have a healthy and cordial relationship with neighbouring states, the minister has decided to visit Tamil Nadu”, a senior official in the minister’s office told this newspaper.