A few hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bengaluru, there is a growing demand for him to talk about Mahadayi dispute. “The stoic silence of the Prime Minister on the issue is an insult to the interests of the state and the farmers. We demand that Mr. Modi prove himself to be the PM of the entire country and speak up today. He must spell out his stand on whether he will intervene or not,” said Prof. Chandrashekhar Patil, writer and thinker.
A large number of Kannada activists have assembled at the Freedom Park for a protest seeking Mr. Modi’s intervention in resolving the Mahadayi row.
Kannada activist and president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, S.R. Govind demanded that Mr. Modi meet a delegation of Kannada activists and farmers fighting for Mahadayi water. “We have requested Union Minister H.N. Anant Kumar to arrange for the meeting. He assured us he would try. But, no appointment has been given to us till now. We will march towards the rally venue to meet the PM,” he said.
Vatal Nagraj threatens a bigger protest
Senior Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj, who is leading the protest, said: “Prime Minister has to break his silence and make clear his stand on the Mahadayi dispute during his speech in the city today. BJP MPs and ministers have till date failed to safeguard the interests of the State. If Mr. Modi doesn't speak up or resolve the issue, we will launch a new protest in the state: Nishyabdha Karnataka (silent Karanataka), where everything will come to a standstill in the State - no buses, no shops, no roads. But we won't call for a bandh,” he said.
He further said if BJP central leadership doesn't protect the interests of the State, they will brand BJP as Kannada drohi (traitors of the Kannada cause) and work to defeat them in the upcoming elections. "We will support any pro-Kannada or pro-farmer candidates, who stand for the polls. People need to elect more of such candidates this time," he said.
