Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party, a constituent of the BJP-led Goa government, today hit out at the Congress stating that the principal opposition party was not willing to clear its stand on the Mahadayi water dispute due to the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

He added that the state government was committed to protecting the interest of Goa in the dispute.

Karnataka and Goa, the riparian states of the Mahadayi river (known as Mandovi in Goa), have been locked in a bitter battle on sharing the river's water.

The river originates in Belagavi in Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters, Sardesai said, "The principal opposition party (Congress) is not willing to put out its stand (on the Mahadayi river water dispute) because it (Congress) is going to be affected in Karnataka."

The GFP leader was reacting to statements made on the contentious river issue by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar.

During a poll rally in Karnataka last week, Modi had claimed that the then Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had said, during Goa Assembly polls in 2007, that her party was "committed" to not allowing the southern state its share of water.

Reacting to it, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar&nbspsaid on Sunday such statements were being made just before the Karnataka polls to "confuse the voters".

"I urge them (BJP leaders) to make a categorical statement within 72 hours, and not to wait till the Karnataka elections are over, if they are serious about this issue," Chodankar had told reporters here last night.&nbsp

Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party, a constituent of the BJP-led Goa government, today hit out at the Congress stating that the principal opposition party was not willing to clear its stand on the Mahadayi water dispute due to the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls

Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party, a constituent of the BJP-led Goa government, today hit out at the Congress stating that the principal opposition party was not willing to clear its stand on the Mahadayi water dispute due to the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls. He added that the state government was committed to protecting the interest of Goa in the dispute. Karnataka and Goa, the riparian states of the Mahadayi river (known as Mandovi in Goa), have been locked in a bitter battle on sharing the river's water. The river originates in Belagavi in Karnataka. Speaking to reporters, Sardesai said, "The principal opposition party (Congress) is not willing to put out its stand (on the Mahadayi river water dispute) because it (Congress) is going to be affected in Karnataka." The GFP leader was reacting to statements made on the contentious river issue by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar. During a poll rally in Karnataka last week, Modi had claimed that the then Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had said, during Goa Assembly polls in 2007, that her party was "committed" to not allowing the southern state its share of water. Reacting to it, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar&nbspsaid on Sunday such statements were being made just before the Karnataka polls to "confuse the voters". "I urge them (BJP leaders) to make a categorical statement within 72 hours, and not to wait till the Karnataka elections are over, if they are serious about this issue," Chodankar had told reporters here last night.

BJP-led Goa government hits out at Congress over Mahadayi water dispute

Ahead of the assembly elections in Karnataka, over 700 farmers from the state have decided to stage a protest in the national capital over the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mahadayi-river-dispute-karnataka-bandh-to-affect-daily-life-transport-services-will-remain-unaffected-30593"> Mahadayi Water Dispute</a>.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Bg2iI4F8yo" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The farmers will&nbsp;move from Karnataka's Hubballi to&nbsp;Delhi on April 25 and will hold a three-day protest in Delhi.

They will also seek euthanasia from the President.&nbsp;

The farmers have also decided to boycott the upcoming&nbsp;assembly polls in the state claiming that "every politician takes benefit of the issue but does nothing on it".

Mahadayi river which emerges in the Western Ghats from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka's Belagavi district is a bone of contention between Karnataka and Goa.

Over two-thirds of the river's stretch flows in Goa before finally joining the Arabian sea in Panaji.

The dispute regarding the river emerged between the two states during the 80s and gradually grew over time.&nbsp;

Goa is against Karnataka's construction of dams and canals to divert the river's water into the Karnataka's Malaprabha basin.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Over 700 farmers protesting over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahadayiWaterDispute?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahadayiWaterDispute</a> to leave for Delhi from Karnataka's Hubballi on 25 April. They'll hold 3-day protest & seek euthanasia from President, say, 'every politician takes benefit of the issue but does nothing on it. We've decided to boycott polls.' <a href="https://t.co/lJgVXJtA7I">pic.twitter.com/lJgVXJtA7I</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/987543096073359360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

The farmers will move from Karnataka's Hubballi to Delhi on April 25 and will hold a three-day protest in Delhi. They will also seek euthanasia from the President

Ahead of the assembly elections in Karnataka, over 700 farmers from the state have decided to stage a protest in the national capital over the Mahadayi Water Dispute. × The farmers will move from Karnataka's Hubballi to Delhi on April 25 and will hold a three-day protest in Delhi. They will also seek euthanasia from the President. The farmers have also decided to boycott the upcoming assembly polls in the state claiming that "every politician takes benefit of the issue but does nothing on it". Mahadayi river which emerges in the Western Ghats from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka's Belagavi district is a bone of contention between Karnataka and Goa. Over two-thirds of the river's stretch flows in Goa before finally joining the Arabian sea in Panaji. The dispute regarding the river emerged between the two states during the 80s and gradually grew over time. Goa is against Karnataka's construction of dams and canals to divert the river's water into the Karnataka's Malaprabha basin. Over 700 farmers protesting over #MahadayiWaterDispute to leave for Delhi from Karnataka's Hubballi on 25 April. They'll hold 3-day protest & seek euthanasia from President, say, 'every politician takes benefit of the issue but does nothing on it. We've decided to boycott polls.' pic.twitter.com/lJgVXJtA7I — ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2018 ×

700 farmers to seek euthanasia from President over Mahadayi water dispute

Bengaluru will&nbsp;be hit by two bandhs in almost 10 days called by the farmers and pro-Kannada organisation president Vatal Nagaraj.

The bandh has been called to urge the central government to resolve the Mahadayi river dispute at the earliest.

One bandh called on January 25, will be observed statewide and the other one would be organised in Bengaluru only on February 4.

The February 4 bandh intends to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is scheduled on the same date when the prime minister is also visiting the state to attend the Parivarthana rally.

Meanwhile, on Sunday Nagaraj was addressing a press meet in which he had a protest from farmers questioning him on the authority of whom Nagaraj asked before announcing bandh. However, the conflict was later resolved and the farmers and Nagaraj addressed a joint press meet.

The state of Karnataka and Goa are in dispute on the issue of sharing the inter-state Mahadayi river water.&nbsp;

While the river originates from Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa.

Karnataka is seeking the release of 7.56 tmc ft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;similar protest was observed on December 27 in which the protestors raised anti-government slogans and effigies were burnt.

The protest is being led by the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/farmers-call-for-bandh-in-karnataka-over-mahadayi-water-dispute-27858">Mahadayi</a> Kalasa Banduri Nala Horata Samanvaya Samiti, getting support from several pro-Kannada groups and other organisations.

Earlier, a petition filed by the Karnataka government was rejected by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on grounds that the project may cause ecological damage.

A meeting was called by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah with his Maharashtra and Goa counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Parrikar&nbsp;&quot;to arrive at a negotiated settlement&quot; over the issue in December.

The bandh has been called to urge the central government to resolve the Mahadayi river dispute at the earliest.

Bengaluru will be hit by two bandhs in almost 10 days called by the farmers and pro-Kannada organisation president Vatal Nagaraj. The bandh has been called to urge the central government to resolve the Mahadayi river dispute at the earliest. One bandh called on January 25, will be observed statewide and the other one would be organised in Bengaluru only on February 4. The February 4 bandh intends to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is scheduled on the same date when the prime minister is also visiting the state to attend the Parivarthana rally. Meanwhile, on Sunday Nagaraj was addressing a press meet in which he had a protest from farmers questioning him on the authority of whom Nagaraj asked before announcing bandh. However, the conflict was later resolved and the farmers and Nagaraj addressed a joint press meet. The state of Karnataka and Goa are in dispute on the issue of sharing the inter-state Mahadayi river water. While the river originates from Karnataka, a major part of it flows in Goa. Karnataka is seeking the release of 7.56 tmc ft water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. A similar protest was observed on December 27 in which the protestors raised anti-government slogans and effigies were burnt. The protest is being led by the Mahadayi Kalasa Banduri Nala Horata Samanvaya Samiti, getting support from several pro-Kannada groups and other organisations. Earlier, a petition filed by the Karnataka government was rejected by the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal on grounds that the project may cause ecological damage. A meeting was called by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah with his Maharashtra and Goa counterparts Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Parrikar "to arrive at a negotiated settlement" over the issue in December.

Karnataka: 2 bandhs in 10 days over river dispute