Javadekar heckled at IFFI event in Panaji

Panaji : Union I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar was heckled by sloganeering protestors during the inaugural session of the 50th edition of the IFFI, who accused him of betraying Goa's interests in the ongoing tussle with Karnataka over sharing the water of the Mhadei river. Three protestors heckled Javadekar during his speech on Wednesday, before they were forcefully ushered out of the inaugural function venue by security personnel.

The yet unidentified trio, who were shouting slogans demanding Goa's rightful share of water from the Mhadei river, have been detained by the police. Hundreds of party workers from the Congress, Goa Forward party and several other NGOs also staged a protest outside the IFFI campus in Panaji, against Prakash Javadekar's refusal to withdraw the Ministry of Environment and Forest (whose charge he also holds) permission to Karnataka's controversial Kalasa-Banduri project, aimed at diverting water from the Mhadei river.