Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao along with Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa and Congress President Amit Patkar at Congress office in Panaji on Friday.
Congress threatens protest, demands immediate steps
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PANAJI
The Congress has threatened to launch protests if Chief Minister Pramod Sawant fails to take immediate steps to resolve the Mhadei issue in Goa's favour.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has asked the CM to take the lead in submitting the resignations of all 40 MLAs in protest against Centre's decision to approv
The move, Alemao said, will make it clear that Goa is united to protect interests of Goa on River Mhadei. "Let him walk the talk on Mother Mhadei," he demanded.
Addressing a Press Conference at Congress House, Yuri charged that BJP with compromising the interest of Goa on Mhadei always.
"I demand days of upcoming Assembly Session must be extended with a full day debate on Mhadei. Let the government table all documents pertaining to Mhadei in Assembly. I will talk to all Opposition MLAs to take a collective stand on the issue," he said in the presence of Congress President Amit Patkar and MLAs Altone D’Costa and Carlos Alvares Ferreira.
D’Costa questioned the silence of eight defectors who were raising voices on Mhadei while in Congress. "Why are they silent?" questioned Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa. He states that Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik will now shelve his “Water Export Policy” and adopt a "Water Import Policy".
Ferreira said they will explore the option to challenge the decision of the Central government in the court. "Successive BJP Governments always celebrated on Mhadei. Former Water Resource Minister Vinod Palyekar was also responsible for the mess of Mhadei," he started.
Congress leaders have warned to lead protests if the CM fails to take proactive and quick steps to bring a stay on the decision of the Central government.
Sawant was appointedonly to sell out Mhadeito Karnataka: Vijai
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MARGAO
Taking the Chief Minister totask on the Mhadei river fiasco, Goa Forward Chief VijaiSardesai on Friday said Pramod Sawant was appointed asthe CM only to sellout Mhadeito Karnataka.
“Sawant was never seriouson Mhadei. His predecessorhad setup a full fledged Mhadei Office at Goa Niwas on the1st floor, which is now beenshut. Earlier one AE and one JEwere permanently stationed onrotation basis for 15 days whichwas also stopped by the BJPGovernment,” Sardesai toldthe media.
He said the Sawant-led BJPgovernment neither pressed forthe cases in the Supreme Courtnor politically applied pressurein Delhi in the interest of Goa.
“Couple of days ago, Sawantwas summoned to Delhi bythe BJP High Command, andwas categorically told in frontof BJP leaders from Karnataka that DPR regarding Kalasa-Bandura project would beapproved, and if needed, theGoa government may move theSupreme Court. Sawant did noteven utter a word in the meeting,” claimed Sardesai.
He recalled that former CMlate had appointed a team ofSenior Goan Lawyers led bythe former AG of Goa, AtmaramNadkarni, during his tenure tofight the Mhadei case.
“But the moment Sawant became CM, he shunted out theGoan lawyers and appointeda lawyer from Delhi, who gaveconsent in the Supreme Courton behalf of the Goa Govt thatGoa doesn’t have any objections to notify the MhadeiAward by the Tribunal. Thiswas the final nail in the coffin," said a disappointed VijaiSardesai.
RGP demands specialsession on issue
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OLD GOA
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) has demanded thata special Assembly session beconvened to discuss the Mhadeiissue.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji on Friday, RGP MLA VireshBorkar said the winter Assemblysession of four days is not enoughand the same should be extended to ten days, which should include a special session to discusson the Mhadei issue itself.
“There is a need to pass a resolution on the Mhadei issue inthe Assembly and our attemptsto do so in the past were foiledby the BJP government,” Borkarpointed out, while stating thatthe issue has attained seriousstatus now due to which a special session becomes the need ofthe hour.
“If the diversion of Mhadeiis allowed then there will bescarcity of water in entire NorthGoa. Already, many parts of Goaare facing waters shortage andthe crisis will deepen,” Borkarpointed out RGP supremo ManojParab slammed the State government for dancing to the tunes ofthe Central government by sacrificing the interests of Goa andGoans.
“Mhadei is our mother and itneeds to be protected at any cost.But for the CM and the BJP government, the State’s interestsdo not matter,” Parab opinedand warned that RGP will nottake things lying down overthe issue.
AAP accuses CM of fooling Goans over issue
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PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday demanded CM’sresignation while accusing him of fooling the people of Goa overhis “false and contradictory statements".
Speaking at a pressconference on Friday, AAP Goa President Amit Palekar chargedSawant of conspiring with the Central government in approvingthe Kalasa-Bandura water project given the forthcoming assembly elections in Karnataka.
“BJP has sold Mhadei to Karnataka.The CM had recently gone to Delhi on an official visit. He is involved in this conspiracy, and it appears to be a compromise justbecause he wants to save his chair.
