PONDA
PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Saturday stressed the need to awaken Goans regarding the contentious Mhadei issue by undertaking a token hunger strike at the site where Mhadei river originates.
Speaking at the ‘Daij’ festival organised by Goa Yuva Manch at Kavale Panchayat ground, Kapileshwari, Dhavalikar said “I am there with you for this token strike of six to seven hours if two hundred youngsters join me. Let us show people of Karnataka and also our Goan brothers, how important Mhadei is for Goa”.
Urging youth to take part in this hunger strike he said several areas in North Goa are dependent on Mhadei river. We should spread awareness about this.
Dhavalikar condemned Karnataka for carrying out work at the Kalsa nalla to divert Mhadei water. “The way Karnataka is going ahead with the construction needs to be condemned”, he said.
Reacting to statements by party leaders Dhavalikar said “Goa never faced such issues earlier. But now, politicians are confusing people by making irrational statements with elections in mind”.
“You are youth. You are educated. You should think whether this issue is really for the welfare of Karnataka or it is just political in nature. If you have respect for Mhadei, which is our lifeline, then we should go on a hunger strike”, he said. Chief Electoral Officer Narayan Navati, Kavale Sarpanch Rajesh Kavalekar, Ankita Deulkar, Hrudhaynath Shirodkar, Siddhesh Naik, Aditya Desai, Bhavesh Kamat and others were present.
