Karnataka police action amounts to contempt of Court, says Vijai

Team Herald 

MARGAO: Goa Forward Party (GFP) president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai who has already written to the Karnataka Chief Minister protesting against his police behaviour with Goan officials on March 19, 2021 on Sunday said the act amounted to a contempt of Court and threatened to raise the matter with the Chief Justice of India.

He pointed out that on February 22, 2021 the Supreme Court had ordered a joint inspection by officials of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra of the Kalsa site where the waters of Mhadei River are alleged to have been diverted by the Karnataka government.

“Not allowing the Goa officials to inspect the site and keeping them outside is nothing but a gross violation of the Supreme Court order and hence amounts to contempt of court and I shall be taking up this matter with the Supreme Court,” he said.

In a letter written to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Vijai has strongly condemned the action of the Karnataka Police on March 19 and further pointed out that there are numerous instances of misconduct by Karnataka Police who have abused Goan officials.

“In an outrageous misuse of power and position the identity cards of the Goan officers were confiscated by the Karnataka Police and the Goan officials were made to stand outside the project site,” he said adding that this kind of behaviour from government officials towards Goan government officials cannot be tolerated.

He asked the Karnataka Chief Minister to look into the matter immediately and find out why the Goan officials were abused.

Vijai pointed out that Mhadei River is an important part of Goan lives and said Goans will not remain silent if its water is diverted. Vowing to protect the river, Vijai said he will not allow any illegal attempts to divert its water.

He said that Goa respects its neighbours and expect the same respect from them. Appealing to the Karnataka Chief Minister to allow the joint inspection as directed by the Supreme Court, he said such acts should not be repeated in future.

He lamented that the Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant instead of taking cognisance of the abuse of Goan officials was busy celebrating his two years in office. 

“What is there to celebrate when he has already sold the Mhadei waters to Karnataka,” asked Vijai.