VOICING PROTEST: Activists of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala Horata Samiti and Kannada organisations burning the effigy of AICC president Sonia Gandhi in Belgaum on Friday.

Belgaum: Activists of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala Horata Samithi from Belgaum and Nargund, supported by various Kannada organisations, on Friday staged a protest on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner's office here against the remarks on Mahadayi river diversion made by All-India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi at an election rally in Goa.

They raised slogans condemning the remarks of Ms. Gandhi wherein she had reportedly said that the Congress would not allow diversion of Mahadayi river. The activists also burnt an effigy of Ms. Gandhi.

Kannada activists under the banner of Belgaum District Kannada Organisations' Action Committee staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office demanding that the Chief Minister finalise the land for the Suvarna Vikasa Soudha in Belgaum. The project was being delayed due to inability of the district administration to identify land for the purpose.

Addressing presspersons, committee president Ashok Chandargi demanded that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee make its stand clear on the Mahadayi diversion or the Kalasa-Banduri Nala diversion scheme immediately. The remarks made by Ms. Gandhi had come as shock to the State in general and for the people who have been struggling for water for drinking purposes for more than two decades. The silence of the State Congress leaders on the issue would be construed as standing in acknowledgement of Ms. Gandhi's remarks if they do not make their position clear immediately, he said.

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