Goan activist Shreha Dhargalkar claims entire Mhadei water issue is just a poll gimmick, as Karnataka elections are due in May

PANAJI: Speaking to this reporter in Panaji today, Goan activist and social worker Shreha Dhargalkar made light of the Mhadei water issue saying it is only an election gimmick in view of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

“There is a lot of noise in political circles in Goa (and Karnataka) regarding the Mhadei water sharing issue between Karnataka and Goa and even the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji commented on this. But let me tell you this is just an election gimmick. Once the Assembly elections in Karnataka are over, it will be back to square one and Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant will get an opportunity to say that it was because of his efforts the entire matter was put on hold,” Shreha explained.

Speaking further, she said: “Right now the Goa CM has been told to keep quiet on the issue for the next 4-5 months by his bosses in Delhi. Till the Karnataka elections are over, the Goa BJP will be in the defensive mode on the Mhadei issue. Once the polling process is completed, Delhi will announce a “freeze” on all Mhadei diversion-related activity and once again the Goa CM will come out as a hero,” Shreha stated, adding that the voters in Karnataka must take note of this.

“They will not get a drop of Mhadei water, it is just a carrot that the BJP is offering them before the polls,” Shreha said.

Meanwhile in a big body blow to the BJP government in Goa, Union home minister Amit Shah said yesterday that the three-decade plus Mhadei water sharing issue between Karnataka and Goa was “resolved” by his party to allow diversion of water to Karnataka with the help of the Goa government.

Shah’s comments came even as Goa is trying all political and legal options available to it to stop the “illegal diversion” of the Mhadei by Karnataka.