Why punish Karnataka: Siddaramaiah on Goa Chief Minister's remark on river project

India Today

4 days ago

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came down heavily on Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday for his recent comments on the Mahadayi river project, calling them an "insult to the people of Karnataka."Siddaramaiah questioned why the Union government had not officially communicated any concerns about the project. 'Is this how federalism works under BJP? Backdoor sabotage, silence, and betrayal?' he asked, accusing the Centre of acting in concert with the Goa government to block Karnataka's rightful claim.
advertisementHe said the people of North Karnataka have been waiting for decades for access to drinking water, and the Mahadayi project was essential for survival, not a luxury. 'What crime have Kannadigas committed? Are we being punished for not surrendering to the BJP?' he said.
Referring to the 2018 tribunal verdict, which allocated 13.42 Thousand Million Cubic (TMC) of water to Karnataka, the Chief Minister said the Centre and Goa's BJP-led government were jointly stalling the project despite the legal clearance.'This project will quench the thirst of over 40 lakh people in Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Bagalkot and nearby regions. It is a lifeline, not a bargaining chip,' he said.He also took aim at the state BJP and JD(S) leaders, accusing them of being spineless and silent. 'Their silence today will be remembered tomorrow,' he warned.Siddaramaiah asserted that Karnataka would continue to fight 'legally, politically, and morally' to get its rightful share of water from the Mahadayi river.His remarks came after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speaking in the Goa Assembly, reportedly said that the Centre would not approve Karnataka's Mahadayi project and claimed Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav had assured him of the same.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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