Panjim: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has fully backed its AICC in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao comment on Mhadei river diversion, in which he said each State will have to fight for its right. The alleged that the ongoing protest against Rao is politically motivated.
During his first-ever visit to Goa after being nominated as Goa desk-in-charge, Rao, a former Karnataka Minister, refused to give his stand on Mhadei stating, “I am not here to take a decision on behalf of the Pradesh Congress Committee. Whatever decision they take will be in the interest of the State. Each State will have its own issue and it is for them to fight for their right and get justice. Goa will fight for its right and so also Karnataka.”
His comment made last week during that visit, however, did not go down well with the Progressive Front of Goa (PFG), who has threatened Rao against entering the State. On Wednesday, the members of PFG burnt Rao’s effigy.
Speaking on the protest, GPCC president Girish Chodankar said that Rao’s statement was very clear that each State will fight to protect its people’s interest. “And in Goa, we Congress have been doing that,” he said.
Chodankar added that only Congress workers have so far dared to protest against Narendra Modi-led government and the State government for working against the interest of Goa on Mhadei. “Rao has clearly said that Goa Congress will continue its fight. Our Mhadei Zagor will continue till we get justice,” he said.
Chodankar charged that the protest has been instigated by Goa Forward Party (GFP), who went into depression after Rao announced that Congress will contest all 40 seats in the 2022 elections. “GFP leaders went into depression after Rao declined to have pre-poll alliance with the parties, who had compromised themselves for their personal gain,” he said.
PFG had accused Congress of being part of BJP’s game to sell Mhadei.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamar said there was nothing wrong in Rao’s statement. “He is Karnataka Congress leader. How can we expect him to come to Goa and make a statement on Mhadei? But, he made perfect comment that each State will have to fight for its rights,” he added. The former Chief Minister recalled that when the Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal was constituted in 2010, several Congress leaders from Karnataka were Ministers in the Central cabinet. “Despite that, I managed to get the Tribunal notified,” he said.
