Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
Clearly, the double Engine of the BJP seems to have crashed, and CM Sawant has to understand that compared to other States, Goa is less politically important for the BJP as it has just two parliamentary seats.
However, it also seems like the Modi-Shah duo are not only hoodwinking Goa but also Karnataka. The approval is clearly in view of the forthcoming Karnataka assembly polls, and the approval of DPR means absolutely nothing to them because:-
1. Goa will go to Supreme Court for approval, and given the circumstances, it will get a stay on order.
2. Even with the DPR, Karnataka cannot go ahead with the work nor divert water, as the approval clearly states “the acceptance from hydrology and inter-State aspects as per Guidelines of CC shall be subject to the decision in the proceedings before the Supreme Court in the SLPs (32517/2018 of Maharashtra, 33018/2018 of Karnataka & 19312/2019 of Goa) against the Report-cum-final decision dated the 14 August, 2018.”
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Indeed, Goa is in the midst of a major political uprising against the incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party over the age-old Mhadei water diversion issue.
The current controversy has been kicked off by the central government, which has granted approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Karnataka government for the Kalsa Bhandura dam.
Indeed, the Opposition has held the Dr Pramod Sawant government on tenterhooks and has been demanding an explanation from the BJP.
The good thing is that they have been speaking in one voice on the issue. The Goa Forward Party (GFP), The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), The Congress and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) have been united in the fight.
This has forced the Sawant government to take some decisive steps and question the central government over the injustice meted out to Goa, which clearly seemed biased towards Karnataka on the issue.
Clearly, the double Engine of the BJP seems to have crashed, and CM Sawant has to understand that compared to other States, Goa is less politically important for the BJP as it has just two parliamentary seats.
However, it also seems like the Modi-Shah duo are not only hoodwinking Goa but also Karnataka. The approval is clearly in view of the forthcoming Karnataka assembly polls, and the approval of DPR means absolutely nothing to them because:-
1. Goa will go to Supreme Court for approval, and given the circumstances, it will get a stay on order.
2. Even with the DPR, Karnataka cannot go ahead with the work nor divert water, as the approval clearly states “the acceptance from hydrology and inter-State aspects as per Guidelines of CC shall be subject to the decision in the proceedings before the Supreme Court in the SLPs (32517/2018 of Maharashtra, 33018/2018 of Karnataka & 19312/2019 of Goa) against the Report-cum-final decision dated the 14 August, 2018.”
So not only Goa, but BJP seems to be also using the issue for electoral gains in Karnataka.
Coming back to the Opposition attack on the Dr Pramod Sawant government, one has to say that though the Opposition is on a rampage, they have failed to study the issue thoroughly, and their fight on Mhadei seems to be in Bits and Pieces.
Out of the seven MLAs, one may feel only Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai may have a sound knowledge of the issue or at least is attempting to know more while the others are just sounding like a chorus.
Another issue is when as an Opposition, you demand something from the government, it is mandatory to attend and get involved in every step taken by the government to tackle the issue.
The boycott of the all-MLA meeting called by the CM, Dr Pramod Sawant, questions the Opposition’s intent.
You (the Opposition) had the opportunity to question the CM face-to-face and demand answers, but it looked like the Opposition wasn’t ready for this or may not have prepared for the meeting.
All seven are elected representatives, and the opposition party are the eyes and ears of the people. So if you had to attend the meeting, you would know and even tell people how serious this government is on the matter. Boycott isn’t the answer, and Me Sardesai, being an experienced campaigner, should have told this to other first-time MLAs about this.
The CMs tweet that the Opposition wanted to play Political mischief with the theatrics cannot be called wrong.
One has to understand unless the Opposition itself gets involved in the process of what government intends to do, there cannot be a solution to the issue which is acceptable to everyone.
The Opposition is speaking in the same tone it spoke against the Speaker, Ramesh Tawadkar, on the curtailed Assembly session issue.
Assembly session and Mhadei are two different issues requiring different thinking and strategy.
Mhadei is a more complex issue and requires more study, and Goa, right from the start of the issue has been at the receiving end, and Vijai Sardesai was right when he said all national parties had betrayed Goa on the Mhadei issue. This can only be undone if the Opposition stands a strong stand, which cannit be achieved only with press conferences and tweets.
Goa needs to do much more to father for Mother Mhadei.
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