Mahadayi agitators detained

As many as 50 Mahadayi agitators were detained when they staged a protest for more than half-an-hour on the road in front of the Sub-urban Police Station here on Thursday.

The Mahadayi agitators including Navalgund-based Pakshateeta Raitha Horata Samiti members, farmers, and pro-Kannada activists charged that the BJP leaders were playing a drama by saying that they would solve the Mahadayi dispute.

"When State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa is saying that he would solve the dispute by convincing the Goa government, Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palekar is saying that not a single drop of Mahadayi water would be given to Karnataka. Mr Yeddyurappa has failed to fulfill his assurance," they said.

Moreover, they said, after a meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday, which included BJP national President Amit Shah and Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Mr Yeddyurappa had stated that the meeting was satisfactory, and that he would tell a good news on Thursday. However, on Thursday, Mr Parrikar had stated that there was no change in the stand of the Goa government, and that the decision taken by the Goa government in 2002, that it was against the project still holds good, they said.

"We do not believe in such political gimmicks. The BJP's Parivartana Yatra should be cancelled, or BJP leaders should give clarification before the convention begins," they said, adding that the Goa government should file an affidavit before the tribunal, if it is ready to solve the dispute through talks.

However, when the protesters demanded permission to attend the Parivartana Yatra and show black flags, the police detained Lokanath Hebsur. Subhashchandragouda Patil, Basavaraj Devaru, Veeranna Malagi, Amruth Ijari, and others. They were released later.

At that moment, protester Guru Rayanagoudra raised slogans and waved a green towel right in front of BJP workers' procession, and police immediately shifted him to the police station, to prevent any clash.