While asking for out of court settlement with Goa, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah accused his Goa counterpart Manohar Parrikar and state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa of trying to play out a ‘drama’ on the issue Mhadei River water issue, keeping the coming assembly elections in mind.
“…Parrikar and Yeddyurappa both tried to play out a drama for the sake of elections (due in Karnataka early next year),” said Siddaramaiah.
He was responding to a question regarding Parrikar’s letter to Yeddyurappa on the inter-state river water issue after mediation by BJP national President Amit Shah.
The Karnataka government, which had expressed its readiness for talks at “any place and date” to work out an amicable settlement, however, took exception to Parrikar not following “protocol” by communicating his government’s stand to Yeddyurappa instead of his Karnataka counterpart.
However, in a letter to Parrikar, the Karnataka CM has asked to fix a convenient date, time and place to begin negotiations for drinking water from the Mhadei.
Referring to his previous letter dated May 24, 2017 to Parrikar, the Karnataka chief minister said that he had mentioned that Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa should meet at Bangalore on any convenient date in June 2017. “A similar letter was also sent to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Letters were followed up by my chief secretary. However, unfortunate, there was no response from your side,” he added.
“I once again request that, we the chief ministers of three states of Mhadei basin meet on any convenient date and time at the earliest and at a venue of your choice as to try and arrive at a negotiated settlement. I am also sending this proposal to Fadnavis for his concurrence,” Siddaramaiah stated.
