PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and some of his Cabinet ministers launched a media outreach addressing the vexed Mhadei issue in an apparent bid to blunt the backlash of the Opposition-backed mega rally slated to be held on Monday in his home constituency of Sanquelim.
Sawant addressed the people of the State virtually going live and attacked the Opposition accusing it of politicising the issue even as he claimed his government was effectively handling the battle for Mhadei through legal, technical and political means.
Taking a political jibe at the Opposition, Sawant said the government itself, the BJP and the other partners would have stood in unison with them to support Monday's rally at Sanquelim if they (Opposition) had participated in the all-party meeting called by the Government.
“We too would have been present at Azad Maidan to raise hands with them yesterday (Sat),” Sawant said referring to the joint press conference addressed by leaders of Opposition parties to express their support for the Save Mhadei, Save Goa front's rally.
He alleged that on Mhadei, the sole motive of the Opposition was politics.
Sawant, in the virtual address to the people of the State, expressed confidence that his government will succeed in handling the Mhadei issue, just as it was victorious in the matters of mining and Mopa through the Supreme Court.
He said, despite the proceedings in the Supreme Court initiated by NGOs and several other hurdles his government resolved mining and Mopa airport problems, the third 'M' of Mhadei will also be handled successfully.
He recounted that his government has demanded that the Centre withdraw the approval given to Karnataka's Kalsa-Bhandura DPRs and that the Mhadei Water Management Authority mandated by the tribunal's award be set up.
Sawant also said that all technical reports, including the salinity report, have been submitted to the Supreme Court before which the challenge to Mhadei award is pending.
"We are confident that we will get justice," he added.
Earlier on Sunday, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho also held a presser to reiterate that the government was fighting the Mhadei battle through the appropriate forums, including the Supreme Court.
Shirodkar and Godinho stressed that the government was fully committed to defend Goa's position on Mhadei and have placed on record with the Centre objections to the CWC nod to Karnataka's DPRs despite political adversity.
Separately, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane also made statements on the Mhadei issue and expressed faith in the Centre and Sawant to get justice for Goa.
Rane posted a short video on his Twitter handle in which he said: "CM will protect Goa's interest in Mhadei. We will receive justice in the direction we are moving. I have faith in the people who are with CM and the BJP; I have faith that we will achieve victory in the battle."
