Panaji, April 27 : Congress in Goa has appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share his thoughts on ‘Mhadei Diversion’ issue in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Sunday.
Goa Congress Media Department Chairman Amarnath Panjikar on Thursday said that whole hope lies with Prime Minister, who at least can show guts and tell that Mhadei will not be diverted.
“BJP leaders from Goa boasts saying Prime Minister applauded schemes and programs of state government through Mann Ki Baat. Now these leaders should tell him to show some guts and speak about the Mhadei diversion and show his love towards small state like Goa,” Panjikar said.
Hitting out at the BJP, Panajikar said that leaders of the saffron party, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, “failed to show the guts to speak truth over Mhadei issue” in front of people of the coastal state during the meeting of latter in South Goa.
“They have failed to show guts to speak truth about Mhadei, now they should try their luck with Prime Minister and tell him to speak about Mhadei issue that it will not be diverted and Karnataka will not get even drop of water,” Panjikar said.
Referring to Shah’s remarks, during a public rally in Karnataka’s Belagavi in January, that the Centre “has resolved the long dispute between Goa and Karnataka over Mhadei and allowed the diversion of Mhadei to Karnataka to satisfy the thirst of farmers of many districts”, Panjikar said: “Pramod Sawant and other leaders of the BJP had got a good opportunity to clarify this issue, in the presence of Amit Shah, but they failed. “Now BJP is getting platform of Mann Ki Baat to share their thoughts on Mhadei. They should do it, so along with Karnataka and Goa, all other states comes to know about love of BJP towards small states,” Panjikar said.
Recently, Goa BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanavade had said that BJP leaders have “guts to tell even the media in Karnataka that the Goa government will not compromise on the Mhadei river issue”. On this, Panjikar said, “Forget about speaking in front of the media in Karnataka, the state BJP leaders even failed to make a statement in Goa itself.”
“We people of Goa, who love Mother Mhadei, which is lifeline of Goa, are eager to listen from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Mhadei water will not be diverted,” Panjikar asserted.
“It is public domain that Prime Minister will campaign in Karnataka for next several days. BJP leaders of Goa can also tell him to speak about Mhadei issue during election campaign in Karnataka, which will prove whether big states or small states are closer to the hearts of BJP leaders,” Panjikar sarcastically said.
Amit Shah during meeting in Goa had said that Centre has responsibility towards these small states like Goa.