MAPUSA
Defying the Bardez deputy collector's order banning demonstration on the roadside, Goa Yuwa Rakhandar association on Saturday staged a demonstration at Gandhi Chowk on the Mhadei issue and warned the government of consequences if it agreed to share water with Karnataka.
Members of different NGOs and political parties took part in the agitation, while police teams were stationed to prevent the protesters from blocking traffic on the road.
Holding placards, the protesters denounced Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's decision to write to Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa.
Bardez Mamlatdar Dasharath Gawas, Mapusa DySP Gurudas Gawde, Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar, Anjuna PI C L Patil and Pernem PI Sandesh Chodankar were present with a large police force to maintain law and order, while Traffic PI Tushar Vernekar and his team controlled traffic during the demonstration.
Gawas tried to stop the demonstration in Gandhi Chowk, but the agitators were in no mood to listen to him.
"Under pressure from BJP MLAs in Karnataka, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is agreeing to hold talks with Karnataka on the Mhadei water issue. Goan youth will not tolerate this. We will protest in every village of our state and will not allow even a drop of water to be diverted to Karnataka," warned historian Prajal Sakhardande.
Curtorim's Congress MLA Reginald Lourenco said the Congress Party has decided to oppose any attempts to divert Mhadei water to Karnataka.
