Team Herald
PANJIM: Social and environment activists protested in the State capital on Saturday demanding that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar withdraw the letter given to the Karnataka BJP on the Mhadei issue.
Activists gathered opposite the old Secretariat in Panjim and held a peaceful protest shouting slogans against the government decision that they said compromised the State on the Mhadei water dispute.
Activists Prajal Sakhardande, Claude Alvares, Jatin Naik, Manoj Parab, Diana Fernandes, Rajan Ghate and other were present for protest along with Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
Sakhardande said the State is fighting the water dispute since 1997 and the case before the tribunal is in the final stage in favour of Goa and there was no need for the Chief Minister to give a letter to Karnataka’s BJP president.
“It is a political game because of the Assembly elections in Karnataka. BJP Goa is negligible in front of North Karnataka, we have only two MPs,” Sakhardande said.
He added, “We strongly condemn the act of our CM. Mhadei is our lifeline and the CM should not succumb to political pressure. We demand with our CM not to allow the diversion of water.”
Alvares said the act was not expected from the Chief Minister of Goa, as his duty is to provide water to Goa and not to cater to the needs of Karnataka.
“Without consulting the people of the State, the Chief Minister should not take any decision; this is a resource of the people of Goa. If the people of Karnataka ask the people of Goa and we have a good discussion on this, readily we will supply water, but not in this way. Chief Minister on his own cannot make these promises,” Alvares said.
Lourenco, condemning the decision of the Chief Minister said, “We will not allow the sale of Goa to Karnataka. We won’t allow waters of Goa to be diverted for political will.”
