PANAJI/OLD GOA
Goa's Opposition parties, including the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) joined forces with civil society to agitate on the contentious Mhadei imbroglio and called for a mega public rally on January 16 at Sanquelim, the home ground of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
Representatives of the political parties, environmentalists and activists from across the State took the decision to organise the mega rally at Sanquelim on January 16, which also happens to be the anniversary of the historic Opinion Poll.
The rally is being organised under the banner of a new front 'Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front'.
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) with a lone MLA Viresh Borkar in the House, meanwhile is yet to align with the new front. It has announced it will hold a rally in Panaji on Sunday to highlight the Mhadei issue.
Addressing reporters in Panaji on Saturday, Front’s Hrudaynath Shirodkar said, “this is going to be the second Opinion Poll for Goa in which there is only one option and that is to save Mhadei from the clutches of Karnataka”.
“Our fight is against the mighty Karnataka which wants to divert Mhadei waters. However, Karnataka is united in its demand for Mhadei while the same is not the case with Goa where there is division,” Shirodkar said.
Shirodkar, however, expressed happiness that many NGOs, activists, political parties and others have come together.
“On November 1, 2019 we had launched the first agitation for Mhadei and now we are launching another agitation on the issue with only one agenda and that is to Save Mhadei,” Shirodkar said and urged Goans to participate in the January 16 at Sanquelim in large numbers.
Historian Prajal Sakhardande said that all NGOs, activists, political parties have come under a broad platform with only one aim and that is to save Mhadei.
“This is not a political movement but a people’s movement and everybody is welcome to join the movement,” Sakhardande informed while stating that in Karnataka too, everybody joins hands on the issue of Mhadei irrespective of their political affiliations.
“And this is a rare moment in the State when such huge array of NGOs and activists have come unitedly under one banner,” Sakhardade said.
He further slammed Karnataka for going ahead with the Mhadei waters diversion despite the Tribunal ruling to the contrary.
“Karnataka is talking about needing drinking water on humanitarian grounds. Doesn’t the six talukas of Goa also need drinking water on humanitarian grounds?” he posed while adding that Karnataka wants to take water from all rivers.
Among those who extended support to the Save Mhadei agitation included AAP’s Pratima Coutinho, Goa Forward’s Durgadas Kamat, Congress’ Shriniwas Khalap, Trinamool Congress’ Samil Volvoikar and Tanoj Adwalpalkar, Goencho Ekvott Founder Orville Gomes, Goencho Avaz’s Swapnish Shetkar, Goencho Ramponkaracho Ekvott’s Olencio Simoes, Parshuram Sene’s Shailendra Velingkar, Jan Sene’s Janardhan Bhandari, Jai Damodar Association’s Mahesh Naik, Goyche Fudlle Pillge Khatir’s Jack Mascarenhas, activists Xencor Polgi, Jayesh Shetgaonkar, John Nazareth, Tara Kerkar, Ana Gracias, Golda Almeida, Anthony D’Silva, Adv Pundalik Raiker, Azim Shaikh, Sayyad Iftiaz, and others.
Meanwhile, the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) has decided to "actively take part" in the 'Save Mhadei' agitation.
UTAA president, Prakash Velip, along with office bearers of the organisation, addressed the media where he said, Mhadei river is in distress and therefore farming, eco-sensitive zones and the environment are in danger.
Mhadei diversion would be tremendous blow to Goa, Velip a former minister said, even as he stressed that it was not a political issue and that there was a need to bring pressure on the Central government.
Velip, who is affiliated to the ruling BJP, said UTAA will actively take part in the save Mhadei agitation.
"We cannot remain mute spectators and it's time to save Mhadei," he said, urging Goans to step out and participate in the agitation.
UTAA will also launch a Mhadei awareness drive, he said, with office bearers of the Association including Vishwas Gaude, Durgadas Gaude, Mollu Velip, Satish Velip and others flanking him.
