Beware of Karnataka : Halarnkar
Sandesh Prabhudesai
25 September 2002
Only
strong and united struggle against diversion of Mandovi
river can stop sinister designs of a state like Karnataka,
which even violates Supreme Court directives on the
issue of releasing Cauvery water, cautioned Nationalist
Congress Party leader Nilkanth Halarnkar.
The Osmitai
Jyot of Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s Goa Yuva Mahotsav
was lighted at the hands of Halarnkar at the martyr’s
memorial of Bala Mapari in Assnora last Sunday. The
programme organised by Swayambhu was then followed by
a procession and a public function.
Speaking further, Halarnkar stressed the need
to make it an issue of every Goan as diversion of Mhadei
river will have multiplying effects all over the state
and the whole state from north to south will get affected,
directly or indirectly.
Veteran Konkani writer N Shivdas, who presided
over the function, observed that the struggle for Mhadei
is different from all other struggles in the past, from
liberation to Konkan railway, where Goans were always
divided either on political, religious, linguistic or
other lines. But this struggle unites everybody, irrespective
of caste, creed, religion, language or region, he added.
Shivdas also appealed to the student and youth
community to come forward and exploit each and every
platform to make people aware of the intensity of the
issue. He also appealed to the locals of Assnora to
follow rich fighting tradition of a freedom fighter
like Bala Mapari and participate in the Mhadei Bachao
Abhiyan.
Prabhakar Majik of the Vivekanand Kala Sadarikaran
Manch explained the plans of Karnataka government to
construct seven different dams at different places at
all the tributaries, which ultimately join Mandovi river.
He also said the whole Sahyadri range would come under
the threat of earthquake if so many dams were constructed.
Prashant Naik and Sandesh Prabhudesai also spoke
on the occasion. The Osmitai
Jyot was then handed over to the Yuva Parivartan
of Shirgao, who will hold a programme there next weekend.
Earlier, Vivekanand Kala Sadarikaran Manch performed
a street play.
The function began by performing a puja
of a pot filled with water of Mhadei river. The meeting
also paid tributes to B V Karanth, Shivaji Sawant, Vasant
Bapat and Priya Tendulkar. Vinod Mapari, president of
the Swayambhu welcomed the gathering while Makarand
Vaingankar proposed a vote of thanks. Uday Chari compered.
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