Mahadayi river row: 'You don't understand, keep quiet': Siddaramaiah to reporter when asked about Gandhi's past opinion

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday lashed out at the news reporter when she asked him about Sonia Gandhi's involvement in the Mahadayi river issue.

Karnataka and Goa, the riparian states of the Mahadayi river (known as Mandovi in Goa), have been locked in a bitter battle on sharing of the river water, which originates in Belagavi in the southern state.

The matter is pending before the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal.

Speaking to reporters on PM Modi's statement that Sonia Gandhi had said in 2007 that Mahadayi waters won't be diverted to Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said that the decisions has to be taken by PM, not Sonia Gandhi.

However, when a reporter asked if Mrs Gandhi really block process?,  the chief minister said, ""You don't understand the issue so keep quiet."

During a poll rally in Karnataka last week, Modi claimed that the then Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had said during Goa Assembly polls in 2007 that her party was "committed" to not allowing the southern state its share of water.

The PM said since the Congress was out of power in Goa, it was instigating the people of Karnataka on the Mahadayi issue and that instead of finding a solution to the dispute, it was referred to a tribunal.

Meanwhile, reacting to it, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar said such statements were being made just before the Karnataka polls to "confuse the voters".

"I urge them (BJP leaders) to make a categorical statement within 72 hours, and not to wait till the Karnataka elections are over, if they are serious about this issue," Chodankar told reporters here last night.
The prime minister has denied justice to both the states, he alleged.

Earlier in the day, responding on a query on the rising political violence in poll-bound state Modi said violence, in democracy, should not be allowed in any form, by any political party or ideology. .