PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant embarked on a tour of the poll-bound neighbouring Karnataka and laced his public address with political overtones at an event at Managaluru even as he is being chastised by the Opposition at home over the contentious Mhadei water dispute between the two States.
Sawant who addressed the gathering at the inauguration of the 'Canara Cultural Academy' there on Wednesday, expectedly skipped the Mhadei issue altogether but did not hesitate to heap praises on both the Karnataka BJP government as well as the Centre.
Sawant said the dream of 'Nava Karnataka' (New Karnataka) can be realised only with a double-engine government.
"With the BJP coming to power, once again, there will be a double-engine government again,” Sawant said.
Sawant also made it a point to invoke the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech saying he had introduced many programmes from ‘Clean India to Fit India’ to invigorate the younger generation.
He said, several skill development courses were introduced which should be taken up in all educational institutions.
At another event, Sawant inaugurated 'Excellence Centre' for empowerment of Konkani people. It was part of the two-day 'World Konkani Samaroh' where he said the art and literature of the Konkani people must be recognised.
Sawant also asked the organisers to conduct the Konkani Sammelan in Goa and pledged his government full support to the organisation for such an event.
Over the last few weeks, Sawant and the BJP have come under relentless attack from the Opposition in Goa and is being accused of betraying Goa's interests in the Mhadei water sharing dispute with Karnataka in deference to his party's political interests in that poll-bound State.
