Dharwad: Raitha Sena Karnataka State President Veeresh Sobradmath has demanded both the State and Union governments to immediately resolve the Mahadayi issue.

Speaking to media persons here on Sunday, he stated that the farmers of North Karnataka have been staging a protest for the last 640 days demanding water.

"We will continue our protest till our demands are met," he said, and added that as MPs from all the four affected districts are from the BJP, which is the ruling party at the Centre, he demanded that they should exert pressure on the Centre and help resolve the matter.

He said, an all-party delegation led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should be taken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impress upon him the necessity to implement the Mahadayi project.

He charged that all the political parties are keeping this issue alive for their political gains. The politicians don't know that people are aware of their true colours, and have decided to teach them a lesson in the ensuing elections, he added.

He demanded that linking of Kalasa-Banduri nala should be taken on priority basis, else all the four MPs from the affected districts should tender their resignation.

Raitha Sene General Secretary Shankrappa Ambali said, the governments, instead of passing on the buck on each other, should sit and resolve the issue. He also demanded both the State and Union governments to waive off all the loans of farmers.

They also warned that if Gadag police take any action against the 34 farmers, who have received police summons for participating in Kalasa-Banduri protest, the Sene will be forced to intensify their protest.