PM must intervene, resolve Mahadayi deadlock, iterates Siddaramaiah

Hubballi, Dec 26: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must intervene and resolve the Mahadayi river water sharing dispute between Karnataka and Goa.

He was speaking to reporters here in Hubbali, on Tuesday.

Siddaramaiah again, expressed displeasure over the fact that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had written to Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa, that he was willing to hold talks; and not to him.

"As Parrikar has written to BSY and not me, the letter has no legal value. Both Goa and Centre are enacting a political drama," Siddaramaiah maintained.

Reacting strongly to Yeddyurappa's remarks on Monday, that the Assembly should be dissolved and the CM should declare elections, Siddaramaiah asked,"Is Yeddyurappa the election commissioner? People have given us a mandate for five years. Let BJP meet us in May during the polls,"

Bundh in four districts

Mallaprabha, Mahadayi, Kalasa-Banduri Raitha Horata Samiti has called a bundh protesting the delay of the two state governments and the nonchalance of the Centre, in resolving the Mahadayi deadlock.

The bundh has been called in Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag and Bagalkote districts on December 27 from 6 am to 6 pm. If the bundh fails to persuade politicos to action, a dharna would be held in front of the parliamentarians of the region, Samiti leaders informed.