MARGAO
As the Mhadei water dispute with neighbouring Karnataka back in focus after the Centre’s nod for DPR for construction of dams and bhandaras, the issue is all set to get the much needed Saxtti push in a bid to protect Goa’s interest.
With the Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, Goa Forward chief and lone party MLA Vijai Sardesai and the two Aam Aadmi Party MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, all hailing from Saxtti, coming out openly in support of Mhadei, opposition to diversion of Mhadei waters to Karnataka is expected to get a boost from Salcete.
Reports indicate that some of the Mhadei activists, who have been waging a battle to protect Goa’s interests, are in touch with Salcete-based politicos to give a big push to the agitation in the event the Centre does not succumb to the pressure and sentiments of Goan populace.
With Chief Minister Pramod Sawant convening a meeting of the MLAs on Monday evening to discuss the Mhadei issue threadbare, the opposition is gearing up to up the ante on the issue and force the government to take pro-active steps to protect Mhadei.
Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai informed on Sunday that he would point blank question Chief Minister Pramod Sawant whether he was not privy to the Centre decision to accord nod to the DPR to Karnataka on construction of dams and bhandaras. “Since we have information that Home Minister Amit Shah had a meeting with the Chief Minister of Karnataka Bommai and our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the issue, we would insist that our Chief Minister clarify at the meeting whether he was taken in the loop by the Centre before giving the nod,” Sardesai told The Goan on Sunday.
He further said the Chief Minister should come clear on the river water dispute with Karnataka and the pro active steps his government intends to take to force the Centre to withdraw the approval.
Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao said the Chief Minister should come clear on Mhadei and the steps the government will take to withdraw the permission given by the Centre for the DPR.
AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas said he wants the Chief Minister to give a firm commitment that he is ready to quit office on the issue if the Centre does not protect Goa’s interest. “Let us take an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey out sentiments on Mhadei. We should all be prepared for the worst,” Venzy said.
Oppn MLAs to meet today, draw common strategy to take on govt
MARGAO: With Chief Minister Pramod Sawant calling for a meeting of all MLAs on Monday evening to discuss the Mhadei imbroglio, the opposition too seemed geared up to take an united stand on the burning issue.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao is believed to have called for a meeting of the opposition legislators at his chamber in the Secretariat on Monday noon to draw up a common strategy on the issue at the meeting conveyed by the Chief Minister.
It is learnt that the Opposition leader called up the opposition MLAs inviting them for a meeting in his chamber on Monday noon ahead of the Chief Minister’s meeting with the MLAs scheduled at 4 pm.
“I have called a meeting of the opposition MLAs so that a united stand is taken on Mhadei and ensure there’s no compromise on the issue. I am confident that the Opposition MLAs will help make common cause on the issue”, he said.
Sources in the know pointed out that the Opposition Leader’s initiative has raised many an eyebrow in opposition circles when the opposition parties had charged the Congress for holding a separate media briefing on the issue when the opposition had called to put up an united face on the issue.
ALL EYES ON 8 DEFECTOR MLAs’ STAND ON MHADEI
MARGAO: With the Mhadei issue taking the centrestage and Union Minister Shripad Naik even going to the extent of threatening to quit on the issue, one ruling MLA, who has come under scanner is former Opposition leader and Congress-turned-BJP MLA Digambar Kamat, who had feared in 2020 that Goa will become a desert if the BJP government does not protect Goa’s interests.
It’s unclear what stand Kamat and the eight-member group of Congress MLAs, who defected to the BJP in September last, will take on Mhadei after embracing the ruling party.
For, sources recalled that Kamat during his stint as Opposition leader when he was heading the Congress Legislature Party during the outgoing Assembly, was a bitter critic of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the issue.
In fact, sources pointed out that Kamat had feared that Goa will become a desert if the BJP government does not protect the State’s interest, while saying the action of Jal Shakti Ministry’s to notify the Mhadei water dispute tribunal award would leave Goa high and dry, slamming the BJP for complete betrayal of Goa.
