The leaders were detained and taken to the Panaji police station.
Panaji:
Several Congressional leaders from Goa, including the vice chairman of the Pradesh committee, were arrested Friday evening after demonstrating in a hotel lobby demanding that they be allowed to meet with the environment minister of the ‘Union, Prakash Javadekar.
Mr Javadekar is in Goa to attend a series of meetings on new farm bills on Saturday. Congress leaders arrived at the hotel around midnight and demanded to meet with the Union Minister about the Mahadayi River water dispute with Karnataka.
When the hotel management refused them permission, they participated in a protest in the lobby. Later, the leaders were detained and taken to the Panaji Police Station.
Leaders included Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee Chairman Varad Mardolkar, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Vice Chairman Sankalp Amonkar, and Bureau member Janardhan Bhandari.
Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar tweeted: “JUNGLE RAJ in Goa – Delegation @INCGoa led by Vice President @SankalpAmonkar, @JanaBhandariGoa @Varadmardolkar @AdvArchitNaik @RautMeghashyam @SudinNaikGoa and 10 more people awaiting meet by @Paroa_Gavde. meet him in the hotel lobby in Panjim. “
Jungle Raj in Goa. Arrested for having requested the appointment of Union ministers @[email protected]/3ugTv1PVc7
– Chodankar girish (@girishgoa) October 2, 2020
Mr. Mardolkar said the congressional delegation wanted to meet Javadekar to question him about the central government’s “silence” over the diversion of water from the Mahadayi River by Karnataka.
“Javadekar has let the state of Goa down when it comes to Mahadayi’s interests,” he said, saying the Union minister was also responsible for granting permits for several projects dangerous to the environment, which the population opposed.
In response to the incident, BJP Goa spokesperson Dattaprasad Naik tweeted: “Only CHORS (thieves) and dacoits do such things at midnight @INCGoa, inspired by their national leader who was playing at the gallery from Hathras yesterday. @ BJP4Goa strongly condemns such act by @ INCGoa Workers.
