Work together to protect Mhadei, say former MLAs

Panaji: Expressing concern about the Mhadei issue, former Goa MLAs on Monday said that everyone should work together to protect Mhadei and build pressure on the Union government to stop Karnataka from diverting water. Some former legislators said the state government does not have the will to fight the Mhadei battle.
Senior state BJP leader and Himachal Pradesh governor Rajendra Arlekar said that if MLAs want to discuss the Mhadei issue in the House, it should be allowed.
The former MLAs expressed their views on the sidelines of the Goa Legislators’ Day function at the assembly complex in Porvorim. On the occasion, legislators elected to the fifth legislative assembly were felicitated. These include Ex-MLA Navelim Luizinho Faleiro, Ex-MLA Santa Cruz Michael Fernandes, Ex-MLA Dabolim, Herculano Dourado. Arlekar was also felicitated.
Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said that he is hopeful of getting justice for the state on Mhadei. He said that he and Union minister Shripad Naik are taking up the issue with the Centre. “Chief minister Pramod Sawant is working on the Mhadei issue, and we will get justice.”
Meanwhile, speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said that MLAs should work together and not politicise the issue.
Former MLA Nirmala Sawant said that the state has to plan new strategies, which includes waking up the people on the Mhadei issue. “There should be meetings and morchas from the public side, and there should be will from the government,” she said. “I feel that the government is lacking that will. We have to find scientific ways that we have not done, and with that scientific way, we can fight the battle.”
Former MLA and Union minister Ramakant Khalap said that everyone should work together to save Mhadei. “I have raised this issue at the world Marathi conference in Pune,” he said, adding, “The Mhadei issue is a catch-22 position for both Congress and BJP. Both parties want to win elections in Karnataka. Our problem is we are a small state, and we have little voice in the parliament.”
Former CM Digambar Kamat said that everyone wants to safeguard the interest of the state on the Mhadei issue. “I should not be blamed. Check records,” Kamat said.
Deputy speaker Joshua D’Souza said that Mhadei is the lifeline of Goa and that “we need to save it.
Former Calangute MLA Tomazinho Cardozo said that the Centre must intervene.