PANAJI/MAPUSA
Several Goans lit diyas on Sunday evening to fight against injustice to Goa on Mhadei water diversion, as appealed by the members of the 'Save Mhadei, Save Goa' movement.
Prajal Sakhardande and Mahesh Mhambrey of Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan along with their colleagues and citizens started the campaign at Boca da Vaca while urging Goans to join in large number to light diyas or candles as a mark of protest against Karnataka's diversion of water.
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai along with Usha Sardesai, party's Vice President Durgadas Kamat, Congress leader Amarnath Panjikar, and other opposition leaders and office bearers, former ZP Deepak Kalangutkar, Sanquelim Municipality Chairperson Rajesh Sawal, Santosh Kumar Sawant, among others also took part in the Save Mhadei Save Goa Movement.
"Let us all Unite to save and Protect our Mother Mhadei & Goa from Power hungry @BJP4India & @BJP4Goa," Panjikar tweeted.
Muslim Brothers from Ponda also performed dua in support of Mother Mhadei and pledged support to the movement.
In Mapusa, like-minded citizens organised a candle light march in town to create awareness and support the Save Mhadei movement.
Several residents armed with burning candles marched from Gandhi Chowk to the Hutatma Chowk and back.
A local, Yatish Naik said that with the diversion of Mhadei river the water flowing in the State will run dry which will cause serious environmental degradation.
“We do not want to indulge in regional chauvinism but if we do not fight to save our Mhadei we will all perish. We need to come out and fight the good fight. People should join the movement,” Naik said.
Pointing to the candle he was holding in his hand, former State AAP President, Rahul Mhambre said that it won’t take time for the small candle light to turn into an inferno and consume all the politicians who were not bothered about the real issues affecting Goa.
He said it was time for action and called for immediate withdrawal of the detailed project report (DPR) sanctioned by Central Water Commission to the Karnataka government and opposed the diversion of water from Mhadei basin.
Stage Shiv Sena President, Jitesh Kamat said it was nice to see that non-political people were coming forward to hold meetings and marches to create awareness on Mhadei but warned that it will take a much bigger effort to wake the people of Mapusa.
“We need people to come out and join the movement to save Mhadei. Looks like the people of Mapusa are unconcerned. We will have to work hard to wake up the people of Mapusa who are taking things easy,” Kamat said.
Slamming the Centre, and the State governments of Goa and Karnataka from disturbing the peace of Goans, he said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has the courage then he should file a contempt of court petition against Home Minister, Amit Shah for making a statement on Mhadei during a political meeting in Karnataka.
He also slammed the State Union Minister and North Goa MP, Shripad Naik who has been representing the State at the Centre for the last almost 25 years and did nothing to raise the concerns of Goa vis-Ã -vis the Mhadei issue.
“The Mhadei issue has been simmering since 2000 under different governments. But our MP Shripad Naik has failed to protect our concerns. He should immediately resign as an MP,” Kamat said.
Sanjay Barde, Aishwarya Salgoankar, Dr Richards and others also spoke.
