Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday clarified that his statement on the Mahadayi river dispute — in which he agreed to talk to Karnataka on drinking water requirement on “humanitarian grounds” — did not amount to accepting an out-of-court settlement.
“I have obtained the legal opinion of the State Advocate General on this letter and he has vetted it, saying that it does not amount to agreeing to out-of-court settlement. It merely expresses the State government’s intent to talk to Karnataka over only the issue of drinking water to drought-prone areas on humanitarian grounds,” he told reporters.
When asked whether this will mean that the Goa government would speak to the Karnataka government in near future, Mr. Parrikar said it would all depend on how Mr. Yeddyurappa takes forward the issue. “No formula was discussed or given. I have communicated this response in writing,” Mr. Parrikar said.
He justified the meeting convened by BJP national president Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday, saying, “He did his duty as the national president of our party.”
