Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: Kannada Sahitya Parishad president Siddhanna Meti said that he was ready to fight for the Mhadei river in the interest of Goa, while accusing politicians — including Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) supremo Manoj Parab — of remembering the Mhadei issue only during elections to gain political mileage.
Speaking to reporters, Meti said that the RGP had been attempting to divert attention from real issues by questioning the commitment of Kannadigas living in Goa towards the Mhadei cause.
“RGP has now come up with another agenda, claiming that while we are seeking dignity in Goa, we are not fighting for the Mhadei river. I urge Manoj Parab to join me in this cause — we can go together to Delhi and study the case of Mhadei,” Meti said.
He clarified that the issue of the Mhadei river diversion was not in the hands of individuals or political parties, as it was sub judice before the Supreme Court.
“The case of Mhadei river diversion is with the Supreme Court, and we Kannadigas in Goa are no one to decide on it. Still, Manoj Parab has said that we should lead a morcha of Goan Kannadigas to the Goa-Karnataka border to demand Mhadei for Goa — and we are ready for it. But can such a morcha really change the current situation or decide whether the river will be diverted to Karnataka or allowed to flow to Goa?” Meti questioned.
He added that the matter required legal and scientific expertise rather than political noise.
“There are several people who have even gone to jail while fighting for Mhadei, but the final decision lies with the court. Let Manoj Parab give me a 100 percent guarantee that his move can bring Mhadei river back to Goa, and I will stand with him unconditionally,” Meti said.
He further asked, “Has Manoj Parab got the capacity to bring Mhadei river to Goa? If we shout slogans here saying we want Mhadei, will the court pass a judgment in our favour? Legal and well-educated teams from both Goa and Karnataka have already presented their arguments before the court. It is for the court to decide, not us.”
Taking a dig at political opportunism, Meti accused leaders in both states of exploiting the Mhadei issue for electoral gain.
“In Karnataka, politicians are claiming that Mhadei belongs to them and are coming to power, while in Goa, leaders are claiming the opposite and getting elected. RGP and other political parties remember the Mhadei river only before elections to mislead innocent people and consolidate their vote banks,” Meti said.
“These politicians from both states are surviving by fooling innocent people and diverting votes on the Mhadei issue. We are not politicians. Our stand is clear — we will always stand with the poor and will not allow anyone to target us or create hatred against Kannadigas in Goa for political mileage,” he added.
Meti concluded by reiterating his commitment to the cause and inviting unity on the issue.
“If there is a genuine effort to protect Mhadei, I will be the first to join it. But let it be a sincere movement, not a political stunt,” Meti said.
