“Goa and Karnataka have an excellent relationship and bondage. Many Kannadigas reside in Goa and also about 15,000 to 20,000 IT professionals from Goa work in Bangalore,” Deshpande claims to have said after meeting Chief Minister Laximikant Parsekar at his residence.
According to Deshpande he had come to Goa on April 16, to appeal to the Goa government to provide rehabilitation to the poor Kannadiga families evicted from Baina beach, and those who have been issued notices of eviction.
After the meeting, which he had with the chief minister accompanied by Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, president of GPCC Luizinho Faleiro and others, Deshpande was asked by the media why his government was creating problems on the Mhadei project.
Deshpande refused to reply saying that the issue is before the Tribunal and that the purpose of his visit was solely to resolve the Baina beach issue.
The minister was quoted as indirectly threatening to evict Goan IT professionals working in Bangalore if the State government demolishes illegal hutments at Baina beach.
Deshpande was also quoted as accusing the Goa government of picking and choosing only Kannadigas in its action.
“There are so many huts. But only those of Karnataka people are being demolished. Government has already cut their electricity and water supply, government had selectively chosen 205 huts occupied by Kannadigas for demolition,” Deshpande is quoted as saying. And that such a step by the Goa government would adversely affect Goa-Karnataka relations.
This had drawn a strong reaction from the local BJP unit. However, the chief minister was quoted in the media as ruling out any action against the Karnataka minister while speaking to media on the sidelines of a book launch.
