Bengaluru comes out against Mahadayi verdict amidst cries of "we want justice"

Bengaluru, July 30: A sea of protestors braved the rains and took out a march from the Town Hall to Freedom Park, Bengaluru in support of the state-wide bundh call given to protest the tribunal's order on the Mahadayi issue.

Amidst chants of "we want justice," the protestors, members of the film fraternity including Shivrajkumar, the son of Dr Rajkumar marched to the Freedom Park.

Many had come out on the streets to catch a glimpse of the cine stars which only added to the commotion. The march was led by Vatal Nagaraj, leader of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha. While some of the leaders were ferried in trucks, others decided to walk.

Addressing the gathering at the Freedom Park, Nagraj lashed out at Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the MP's from Karnataka. He demanded that the MPs from the state to pitch for an out-of-court settlement for water dispute and also seek the intervention of Modi.

Demand for Modi's intervention

"Plight of the farmers in Naragund and Navalagund is very bad. They are in desperate need of water. Many farmers' association from the region have been for an year demanding an out-of-court resolution to divert water from Mahadayi basin to Malaprabha," Nagraj said.

He further added that it appeared that the cry of the farmers have fallen on deaf years of the MPs of Dharawad and Gadag districts. It is high time all representatives in the parliament urged Modi to intervene in the matter, failing which MPs should resign, he further added.

Sa Ra Govindu, chairman of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) thanked all the unions for supporting the bandh. He too demanded for a political solution for the problem to end the woes of farmers by diverting water to parched districts of North Karnataka.

Mahadayi issue must be viewed on humanitarian grounds

Former chairman of KFCC and Congress MLC Jaimala told OneIndia that the whole issue of Kalasa-Banduri has to be viewed on humanitarian grounds. In the tribunal itself there is an act that ensures drinking water to the people.

"All the political parties should stop engaging in mudslinging and unite for the cause of farmers,'' she said.

She hit out at BJP leader and former Chief Minister, Jagadish Shettar for blaming the Congress entirely on the issue. What has he done on this issue? Has he provided justice to the people of Naragund and Navalagund? Has Shettar convinced Modi who is from the BJP to resolve this issue, she also asked.

Freedom Park also saw a verbal spat between Rajkumar's son Shivrajkumar and protesters. When agitators raised slogans against Narendra Modi and Goa government, Shivrajkumar objected to it saying "stop it, we should not raise slogans against Goa or Modi. We have to raise slogans against ourselves for our failures." However, some protesters argued that slogans must be raised against both the PM and Goa government.

OneIndia News