Team Herald
PANJIM: Congress leaders on Wednesday held a unique protest inside the Secretariat at Porvorim, where they tried to offer a bouquet of flowers to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant urging him to take “all the credit” on the Mhadei River issue, but to ensure that water is saved from being diverted by Karnataka.
The protest comes a day after the CM expressed confidence in the Central government that Mhadei issue will be resolved in Goa’s favour and that opposition should not try to take credit for the efforts to get the MoEF&CC to withdraw its letter of consent granted by MoEF&CC to Karnataka for its Kalsa-Banduri project.
Congress leaders including GPCC member Janardan Bhandari, North Goa District President Vijay Bhike, Bicholim Block President Meghashyam Raut reached the Secretariat but were stopped at the entrance of Chief Minister’s office by security personnel.
“The CM should have had the courtesy to meet us and know why we had come with the garland. We don’t want any credit for saving Mhadei. Sawant and his party can take the credit but they should save the river. We only want our river to be protected,” said Bhike, while adding that Congress is “not intending to play politics over the issue” but is acting with the sole aim to protect the river.
Congress has launched “Mhadei Jagor”, a digital awareness campaign against the State government.
Earlier, Bhike alleged that the party workers who were arrested by police for protesting at IFFI venue, are being harassed by police. “We have written to the Superintendent of Police North against the harassment meted out to our workers by police,” Bhike added.
