Team Herald
PANJIM: Accusing the BJP-led State government of “negligence” and “collusion”, Goa Forward Party (GFP) President Vijai Sardesai on Friday blamed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of “compromising” on the contentious Mhadei River issue.
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In a statement issued at the backdrop of Central government notifying Mhadei Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT) Award, Sardesai said that Jal Shakti Ministry (Water Resources) has given a gift to Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa, allowing Mhadei river water diversion, on his 78th birthday, celebrated on Thursday.
“The order has already been notified. It is seen clear cut that yesterday it was the 78th birthday of Yediyurappa. The notification is a birthday gift by Centre at the cost of Goa. Our river has been gifted to Karnataka. It is a gift of Jal Shakti ministry in collusion with the Goa government,” he commented.
The former Dy CM added that the notification of the Award reveals negligence and collusion by the BJP-led State government with the BJP-led Central and Karnataka governments. “The CM has compromised on Mhadei river, which was a part of a deal. We need to find out what is the deal,” he said.
“But the fact of the matter is that CM has been telling lies. You can fool some of the people, some of the time but you can’t fool all the people, all the time. He is attempting to fool all the people, all the time,” Sardesai commented further
“In the bargain, the CM has sold Goa. This is a clear cut example of selling Goa. Goa’s interest was never protected. Or you can say neither the State nor the Centre was interested in protecting Goa’s interest on Mhadei,” he charged.
“I condemn the Goa government, which stands totally exposed,” he commented.
Pointing to the United Oppositions earlier demand seeking a white paper on Mhadei river, Sardesai said that now the time has come to ask for an x-ray. “The patient is dead. We are on issue of postmortem. It is death by connivance and death by negligence. The notified gazette has said that senior counsel Arvind P Datar representing Goa did not oppose to Karnataka’s plea. What more is there to say,” he stated.
Later in the evening, Goa Youth Forward burnt an effigy of Sawant, with the youth wing president demanding CM’s resignation.
