Team Herald
PANJIM: A war of words broke out between Congress and BJP leaders after All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary for Goa, Dr Anjali Hemant Nimbalkar said on Friday that Karnataka Chief Minister will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for discussion on Mhadei water dispute, whenever Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is ready.
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“Whenever the Goa Chief Minister is ready, our Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) will meet the Prime Minister for discussion. Let them lead, we are ready to resolve the issue. I am not the authority. Authorities are the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of Goa and Karnataka,” she told reporters.
However, reacting sharply to her statement, BJP Goa spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar said, “The Mhadei issue has erupted because Karnataka has been trying to divert the river water into Malaprabha basin. Today the same State is protesting against a report of PRAWAH saying it does not get required water.”
“Before discussions are held this attempt of diversion of water should stop. If this happens then we will request our chief minister to get ready for discussion on Mhadei. Unless Karnataka does not stop diversion, how can one be ready for discussion? Till date, the Congress has only politicised the Mhadei issue.”
However, GPCC) Vice President Sunil Kawthankar said, “I would like to remind the BJP and people of Goa that on January 28, 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said during election campaign in Karnataka that Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had given full cooperation for diversion of Mhadei. What does it mean? It means that Pramod Sawant gave approval for the sale of Goa.”
