the goan I network
MARGAO
Assuring the people of Goa on the eve of Diwali that no other interest, including political, will be greater for his government than Goa’s interest, Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant on Saturday said his government is strongly committed to protecting the interest of the state on the Mhadei water dispute.
The Chief Minister even went to the extent of reassuring the people that his government will give 100 percent to protect the interest of Goa no matter the stand of Union Minister Prakash Javdekar or other Union Ministers or even Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Mhadei.
Without taking names, he took pot shots at Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai for demanding his resignation on the issue and also turned down Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat’s demand for a special session of the Assembly to deliberate on the issue.
The Chief Minster, however, said the Cabinet will take a call whether to take an all-party delegation to the PM after assessing the situation.
Underscoring the need for the people of Goa, including the political class, to take a united stand on issues affecting the interest of the state, irrespective of political affiliations, the CM said his government is committed to take a strong stand on the Mahdei issue.
“The Mhadei Tribunal has already given its order and the matter is now pending in the Supreme Court. I want to make clear that the state government has only one objective, to protect the interest of the state. Javdekar may say something on the issue. Even PM may have his views, but let me make clear that the only agenda before my government is to protect the interest of Goa. I want to categorically state that my government will give 100 percent to protect the interest of Goa. There cannot be any other interest, including political, greater than the interest of Goa,” Sawant asserted.
Apparently referring to the demand made by Vijai calling for his resignation on the issue, the CM said those demanding his resignation should tell the people about their contribution on the Mhadei issue all
these years.
“When Karnataka was executing work on the Mhadei project, I was the Speaker at the time, and I had gone to see the ground reality in that state. It’s easy for politicians to criticize, but I would say they should also be cautious in their approach and not criticize just for the sake of criticism,” he
added.
On the demand made by Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat calling for a special session of the Goa Legislative Assembly to discuss the issue, the Chief Minister turned down the demand, saying it will not make any difference. He, however, said the question of leading an all-party delegation to the PM will be considered by the Cabinet if the need arises.
