PANAJI, 26 JULY

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has invoked the "cooperative federalism" principle while targeting the Karnataka government amid the Mahadayi river water sharing dispute.

"They (Karnataka) speak about stopping the supply of vegetables or tourism inflow (to Goa). We never use such language. India can go forward with cooperative federalism. We are Indians first and Goans later," the Chief Minister told the Legislative Assembly on Friday after Opposition leader Yuri Alemao claimed that Karnataka had threatened to stop vegetable supplies to Goa.

Goa and Karnataka are embroiled in a dispute over sharing the Mahadayi river water. The BJP-ruled Goa has accused the Congress-governed Karnataka of planning to divert the river water by constructing two dams. 

Sawant had said that the Goa government would file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities that are aimed at diverting the Mahadayi river water. In response, State Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused Sawant of “losing his mental balance”.