Prime Minister Narendra Modi disappointed a large gathering of farmers by not making even a passing reference to the long-pending issue of sharing of the Mahadayi waters among the riparian States of Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra in his address at the Kisan Maha Sammelan in Belagavi on Saturday.
This, at a time when the farmers’ protest over the issue entered the 235th day at Naragund in nearby Gadag district.
Farmers from Gadag, Dharwad and Belagavi districts, who had gathered in large numbers, were hoping for some reference on the issue, especially in the wake of dissent among farmers because of the recent letter of Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharati about the Centre’s reluctance to interfere in the issue.
Even before the convention began, former Chief Minister and national vice-president B.S. Yeddyurappa told presspersons that the Mahadayi issue would not be raised. Other BJP leaders from the State also did not raise it.Dastagir Ibrahim Mule, from Parthanahalli in Athani taluk of Belagavi district, said: “He should have spoken about it. They are also farmers who are fighting for water.” Maruti Patil from Naragund was more scathing: “A political party that can’t resolve an issue either blames another party or avoids the issue. We though Modiji would speak about it.”
Earlier in the day, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene faction headed by Kodihalli Chandrasekhar, who were at the farmers’ protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Belagavi, accused Mr. Yeddyurappa of “escapism.” “When the Prime Minister is visiting the State and claiming that farmers’ welfare is his government’s top priority, the State BJP opted to tread an anti-farmer path,” he said.
