GFP urges govt to put pressure on Centre & K’taka on Mhadei

Team Herald 

PANJIM: Stating that the contempt petition is just a ‘legal’ way out, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) has urged the BJP-led State government to mount pressure on Centre and Karnataka, both ruled by the saffron party, in order to ‘undo’ the illegal diversion on Mhadei river water by the neighbouring State; failing which Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should resign and admit “sale” of Mhadei. 

Addressing media persons on Tuesday, GFP President Vijai Sardesai produced video evidence to ascertain illegal diversion of water from Mhadei river basin by Karnataka. 

“The impact of water diversion is not very visible at this point since the State received heavy showers. But, if no corrective measures are taken on time, that is before November, its repercussion will be seen soon,” Sardesai said. 

The former deputy CM added that the contempt petition filed by the State government has come after much delay and when the damage has already taken place in form of diversion. “This is a legal way out. Contempt petition is the only option before us at this point,” he said. 

“But the Government needs to take some political steps considering that BJP is also ruling at the Centre and in Karnataka. CM Pramod Sawant should mount pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa to undo illegal diversion of Mhadei river water before November,” he said. 

“If not, then Sawant should vacate the chair and admit that BJP government sold Mhadei,” he demanded. 

Sardesai demanded that the CM should make public all the communications he had with the PM and Karnataka CM to protect Goa’s interest on Mhadei. “During his recent visit to Delhi, Why did the Chief Minister fail to take up the Mhadei issue with the Prime Minister?” he questioned while answering that “the CM is scared to raise Mhadei issue before the Prime Minister”. 

He alleged that the Central government is clearly denting towards Karnataka on Mhadei issue. 

The MLA accused Sawant of failing prey to Centre’s blackmail tactics to sell Goa. “There is no political willingness to resolve the Mhadei issue,” he charged. 

Reacting to the Sawant’s recent statement accusing the then Congress government for Mhadei fiasco, Sardesai said that Sawant is trying to politicize the entire issue with blame-game. 

While referring to the contempt petition, Sardesai pointed out that the petitions filed in 2018 and 2019 on the illegal diversions, are yet to be heard by the Supreme Court. “Why is the government not appealing to the Supreme Court for urgent hearings in the matter?” he questioned.