Cong-BJP-JD(S) clash over Mahadayi will only benefit Goa: Veeresh Sobaradmath
Thirty-eight-year-old farmer leader Veeresh Sobaradmath has plunged into the Mahadayi movement by taking Sanyas Dheeksha for the cause of farmers. He led more than 500 farmers, including women, who staged an agitation in front of the BJP office in Bengaluru after his silent protests and fast in Nargund failed to yield any result. Veeresh has been leading a life of an ordinary seer and plans to establish Raitha Peetha (Mutt) to work for the welfare of farmers. He had filed a PIL in the Supreme Court after establishing Raitha Sene in 2012 seeking Karnataka’s share of Mahadayi water. In an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Veeresh explains the failure of political parties to get water from Goa and his strategy for the Mahadayi movement. Here are excerpts.
The Mahadayi tribunal has already rejected Karnataka’s plea for 7.56 tmc water in its interim verdict. Are you hopeful that the final order will be in our favour?
The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal was formed only after realizing the fact that Karnataka is entitled to its share of water. We are fully confident that drought-hit farmers will get justice from the tribunal. It has also advised all three states to decide on release of water for drinking purposes through talks which has not been possible so far. Moreover, we cannot file an interim application before the tribunal which was constituted by the government only to give its final award after studying ground realities. The state government had filed an interim application despite opposition from farmers and such pleas are bound to be rejected. The interim application was filed just to suppress the ongoing movement of farmers.
Are you confident about the state government’s legal team arguing its case before the tribunal?
Earlier, there were many lapses in the argument of the case as our advocates miserably failed to explain things in the affidavit filed before the tribunal. The judge rejected the state’s interim plea as he was not clear about how the state intended to divert water from Mahadayi river. Now, the government has taken the issue seriously only after farmers intensified the movement and began to seek the opinion of experts like retired IAS officer S.A. Jamdar who hails from our region. It will be tantamount to betraying farmers if experts are not taken into confidence before the legal fight.
Who is responsible for not initiating talks with Goa?
All of them – Congress, BJP and JD(S) – are responsible for the delay in implementation of the project as they have been keeping their interests above the interests of farmers. They have to come together by setting aside prestige issues to find a solution to the dispute as it has turned into a people’s movement. The fight among the three parties will only benefit Goa.
The BJP argued that your protest in Bengaluru was sponsored by the Congress. How do you react to this?
Let me first narrate the chronology of events that prompted us to sit on a dharna in front of the BJP office. I had undertaken an indefinite fast in Nargund from July 16 demanding settlement of the Mahadayi row. I withdrew my fast after six days when the Chief Minister assured me that an all-party meeting would be convened. Both Congress and BJP leaders agreed to persuade their respective party units in Goa in the meeting called by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on August 14. Later, we asked Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar when he would meet Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. But, he sought time citing the elections in that state. He continued to adopt similar tactics though we met him three times. Finally, we staged a dharna in front of his house in Hubballi where he assured us ‘sweet’ news on November 1. Later, we sat on an indefinite strike in front of his house again on November 15 and this time, B.S. Yeddyurappa promised us a letter from the Goa
government expressing willingness to release water for drinking purposes. But he read out a letter of promise from Parrikar which had no significance, causing anger among farmers.
Is it not the responsibility of the Karnataka government to persuade the Goa Congress when the BJP was able to convince Goa Chief Minister Parrikar?
Yes. I agree that the Congress too should persuade its party unit in Goa. But our legal experts told us that Parrikar’s letter of assurance to Yeddyurappa is not a relevant document in the eyes of the tribunal. Moreover, the Goa water resource minister also refused to release water to Karnataka just a few hours after Yeddyurappa read out Parrikar’s letter at the Parivarthana rally in Hubballi. The letter will hold good only if Parrikar writes it to the tribunal or CM Siddaramaiah. Therefore, we intensified our agitation and rushed to Bengaluru.
Do you think Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhi (Congress president) are provoking Goa Congress leaders to call for a Goa bandh as alleged by the BJP?
It’s quite natural that every political party will stage protests to safeguard the interests of the people of their states. But, I wonder why Karnataka Congress leaders are not putting pressure on AICC president Rahul Gandhi who has remained silent on the issue. A statement by him to release drinking water will encourage Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a meeting of all three states to resolve the issue. Prominent Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge are not uttering a word though he hails from North Karnataka. Therefore, the Congress too is politicising the issue with an eye on the elections. Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda should camp in New Delhi to pressurise the Union government for an early solution using his influence.
Do you believe an out-of-court settlement is possible when a coalition government led by the BJP is in power in Goa with support from small parties and independents?
Yes. I am confident that the solution can be found outside the purview of the judiciary as similar disputes like Narmada water sharing row and Telugu Ganga issue were resolved with the intervention of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. We have furnished all these details to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi when an all-party delegation met him. But, the process is getting delayed as all parties are politicising the issue. We are confident that the tribunal will give justice to Karnataka by allowing it to utilise its share of Mahadayi water. The tribunal has already censured Goa on a few occasions for not providing enough evidence to support its argument.
Are farmer organizations united in the struggle?
It’s very difficult to bring all farmer organisations on a single platform. I made a lot of effort but failed as every organisation has its own ideology. But, all of them will extend support to the Mahadayi movement as it has turned into a people’s movement.
Can you give us the realistic data about the need for water? How much water is required for drinking and irrigation in north Karnataka?
We have putforth a demand for 36 tmc water out of the total availability of 210 tmc water by diverting Mahadayi river to Malaprabha reservoir. We are planning to utilise 7.5 tmc for drinking purpose and 7 tmc for irrigation of more than five lakh acres in 13 taluks. This will help farmers of Nargund, Navalgund and Ron taluks which are prone to drought every year. There are also plans to utilise 14 tmc for a power project and 5 tmc to lift the water to Kali river.
Do you think the Karnataka government has shown the same interest and commitment here as it did on the Cauvery row?
The Mahadayi issue elicited an overwhelming response from various organisations and leaders in Bengaluru and the old Mysuru region. All artistes from Sandalwood visited Hubballi to express their solidarity for the farmers’ movement. It is wrong to say that there is discrimination in resolving the Mahadayi dispute. The Karnataka government should show the political will to find an amicable solution. Otherwise, it will face a backlash from farmers.
What is your next priority if your January-end deadline is not met by political parties?
We have given a one-month deadline to the state government to take a delegation of farmers and Opposition parties to New Delhi if it can’t resolve the dispute on its own through negotiations with Goa and Maharashtra. We will not allow any politician to enter our region during the election campaign if the government does not fix the date for the visit to New Delhi to pressurise the Prime Minister. We will also create awareness about NOTA among farmers to enable them boycott all election candidates.
Why are farmers not looking for alternative sources of water instead of fighting for Mahadayi?
We cannot draw water from Krishna river as farmers of the river basin are already fighting for their share of water with a neighbouring state. The Benne Halla stream is not fit for irrigation or drinking as it has high salt content. Therefore, we are demanding Mahadayi water as it is a permanent solution for the water woes of the drought-hit Gadag, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Belagavi districts.
BJP men attack Sobaradmath
Local BJP leaders and hundreds of party workers on Sunday attacked farmer leader Veeresh Sobaradmath, who staged a dharna in front of the party office in Bengaluru, demanding an early solution to Mahadayi water dispute.
The farmers alleged that the party leaders tried to take revenge by beating him up and also tore his shirt after entering the venue of dharna in Nargund.
Tension prevailed in the town as hundreds of BJP workers and supporters of former minister C.C. Patil blocked the Hubballi-Vijayapur National Highway-218 by setting tyres on fire. The police beefed up security as farmers and BJP workers jostled with each other.
More than 500 farmers returned to their villages on December 28 after staging the protest in Bengaluru. The verbal clash between farmers and BJP leaders erupted when Sobaradmah visited the venue where the farmers’ dharna is being held in Nargund to address the protesters as their movement crossed 900th day on Sunday.
