Those times are gone when the interests of States were satisfied by the national level parties and this is the reason why regional parties have been formed in different Indian states, opined former State Chief Minister and Chairman of Chhattisgarh Janata Congress (Jogi) Ajit Jogi, while addressing a Press conference at his residence here on Thursday.
“Our high command is the public of this State and we do not need to get permission from political masters sitting in Delhi,” he told reporters.
Jogi while raking up Mahanadi water distribution issue alleged that Chhattisgarh unit of the Congress party was directly supporting Odisha while BJP was indirectly in support of that State.
“We are planning to embark on an awareness drive on boat or on foot from the origin of Mahanadi in Sihawa till the point where it leaves Chhattisgarh,” Jogi said while adding that a representative of his party will meet the Governor in this regard.
Notably, CJC(J) has been staging strong protest against the visit of MlAs from Odisha who had reached Chhattisgarh to inspect constructions made over Mahanadi river.
Jogi further said that about 70 per cent of Mahanadi river flows in Chhattisgarh and about 90 to 95 percent of its catchment area is in this State; however, only 15 percent of its water is used in the State.
According to Jogi, his party was acting in public interest and hence was staging the protests.
“The fight over Mahanadi has just begun and we will take it to village level,” he asserted while adding that the first use of water should be for drinking, then agriculture and the remaining should be given to industries.