Team Herald

PANJIM: Two days after claiming that the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal judges have a soft corner towards Goa, Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar sought to clarify on the controversial remark stating that he was misquoted.

“On March 22 during World Water Day function I had made a speech. I spoke on Mhadei. I said we will surely win the petition. That time I had said that the case of Goa is very strong. I was quoted as saying that the judges have soft corner towards Goa,” Palyekar said.

The Minister said that of late he has noted that whatever he says is misinterpreted by people in Karnataka. “I did not mean to demean the dignity of the court or the judges. We hold the judiciary in high esteem and always respect the court,” he said. “At the same time it is true that our case before the tribunal is very strong,” he added.

The minister during a function organised to celebrate World Water Day had said, “God will give us success in this case because even the judges on the tribunal know what the truth is and they have a soft corner towards Goa,” he had said.