As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Bengaluru, Karnataka's capital, on Sunday, to address a BJP rally ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has urged him to help resolve the Mahadayi river dispute with Goa.
Also, several Kannada outfits called to observe 'black day' on Sunday in view of Modi's visit.
He wrote on Twitter: "@narendramodi, I am glad you are making time to visit the country's startup & innovation hub, Namma Bengaluru today.."
.@narendramodi ರವರೆ, I am glad you are making time to visit the country’s start up & innovation hub, Namma Bengaluru today.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 4, 2018
On behalf of my people, I urge you to find the time for Karnataka’s drinking water needs & help us resolve the #Mahadayi dispute. #NammaKarnatakaFirst
"On behalf of my people, I urge you to find the time for Karnataka's drinking water needs & help us resolve the #Mahadayi dispute #NammaKarnatakaFirst," Siddaramaiah wrote as he urged to the PM.
I welcome PM @narendramodi ರವರು to Namma Karnataka - the no. 1 state in investments,innovation & progressive policies.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 4, 2018
Through a unique model of development, we have scripted several national firsts across key sectors. I am confident that Karnataka’s success makes India proud.
Yeddyurappa mocks CM's no.1 claim
Reacting to Siddaramaih's tweet, BJP Karnataka president BS Yeddyurappa (BSY) lashed out at the ruling government as he mocked Siddaramaiah's tweet and said "Karnataka indeed has scripted several firsts" pointing out corruption and farmer suicides.
BSY said, "Karnataka indeed has scripted several firsts - No.1 Corrupt State, 3,500+ farmer suicides, a collapse of law & order, mysterious deaths of officers, transfers of honest officials, crumbling infra of Bengaluru. #KarnatakaTrustsModi."
Thanks for the welcome CM @siddaramaiah avare! Yes. Karnataka indeed has scripted several firsts - No.1 Corrupt State, 3,500+ farmer suicides, collapse of law & order, mysterious deaths of officers, transfers of honest officials, crumbling infra of Bengaluru. #KarnatakaTrustsModi https://t.co/TXrdge4hDx
— B.S. Yeddyurappa (@BSYBJP) February 4, 2018
It has to be noted that Yeddyurappa had earlier faced graft allegations and spent over three weeks in jail before getting a bail.
The Mahadayi row
The dispute between Karnataka and Goa over the sharing of Mahadayi river water has been going for four decades. Although the river originates in Karnataka, a vast part of it flows in Goa.
Karnataka had earlier proposed the construction of barrages across Kalasa and Banduri —the tributaries of Mahadayi — in order to divert 7.56 tmcft water to Malaprabha river in the state to fulfil the drinking water needs of twin cities Hubballi-Dharwad, and districts of Belagavi and Gadag.
The Goa government, on the other hand, said that if they let Karnataka extract 7.56 tmcft water from the river, the coastal state will be deprived of drinking and irrigation water apart from the tourism sector getting affected, which is one of the major sources of income for the state.
Of late, Karnataka has witnessed a number of bandhs over Mahadayi river water. Various pro-Kannada organisations along with the farmer community had earlier observed a bandh on January 25.
As of now, the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal is looking into the matter.
