Bengaluru: Taking strong objection to the Goa government evicting dwellers from Karnataka from the Baina beach, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government would write a letter to the Goa government in this regard.
The Chief Minister said the state had taken the issue seriously and would demand suitable rehabilitation for those who were displaced at Baina beach. The state had held a series of talks with the Goa government.
Even Industries and Tourism Minister Mr R.V. Deshpande, along with senior officials had visited the area, the Chief Minister said. But the Goa government had still demolished their houses and the state would seek suitable rehabilitation for them, he said.
Reacting sharply to the BJP demand that the state government should appraise AICC president Mrs Sonia Gandhi about the need to hold talks with Maharashtra and Goa Congress leaders over Mahadayi, Mr Siddaramaiah said the issue could not be resolved by Mrs Sonia Gandhi as she was not Prime Minister.
Replying to questions by reporters, he said, “The Prime Minister is Mr Narendra Modi. Only he can resolve the issue outside the purview of the Mahadayi tribunal. I am still optimistic that the Prime Minister will convene a meeting of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa Chief Ministers to resolve the issue.’’
Stating that he would convene a meeting of MPs to elicit suggestions on how to resolve the Mahadayi row, Mr Siddaramaiah came down heavily on the former Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, who had said that he could resolve the issue within a month. “If he wanted to resolve the issue, he should have done it when he was chief minister of the state for three and a half years. Now, he says that he will lead a delegation to the AICC president and the Prime Minister. This is nothing but politicking,’’ he added.
