Around 1000 people march peacefully through city 3-day protest planned at Jantar Mantar from December 11
the goan I network
PANAJI
Around 1000-odd ‘mining dependents’ on Friday morning marched peacefully through Panaji city and followed it up by meeting leaders of different political parties to drum up support for their demand of early resumption of mining.
In their meetings with the political parties, the mining dependents led by Goa Mining People’s Front leader Puti Gaonkar urged the leaders to secure support of their respective MPs for their planned three-day protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi during the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
Meetings were held with TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai at his Goa Forward Party’s office at Patto, Opposition Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar and former chief minister Digambar Kamat at the Congress headquarters, AAP Convenor Elvis Gomes and Shiv Sena spokesperson Rakhi Naik Prabhudesai. Sardesai, in his discussions with the delegation told them that the onus to ensure that the amendment to the MMDR Act goes through in the winter session of Parliament is on the BJP as it was ruling at the Centre and the party’s MP from Goa is also in the Union Council of Ministers.
He told the delegation which had suggested to him that he pull out of the coalition if the mining issue is not resolved that it would not serve any purpose.
“On the contrary being in the government will help further the cause of mining dependents,” Sardesai told the delegation.
He also said, that the BJP which is openly challenging the Sabarimala temple verdict of the Supreme Court wouldn’t have a problem doing the same on the mining issue.
Kavlekar, meanwhile, assured the mining dependents that the Congress at the Centre will support the move to amend the mining law in Parliament.
Mining dependents announced that they will hold a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from Dec 11 to Dec 13 which happens to be the first 3 days of the Winter Session of the Parliament.
Congress leaders assured that the party at the Centre will support the move to amend MMDR Act in Parliament during the winter session.
“We have met our national party president on the issue,” Kavlekar said, adding that it is for the BJP to resolve the issue and the Congress will support the move.
“We will write a letter to Governor for demanding a one-day session to discuss and pass a unanimous resolution on resumption of mining.”, said Kavlekar and made a case for an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue.
AAP’s Gomes told Gaonkar and the other members of the delegation which met him that the State government was insincere about its stand on the mining issue.
He said, the focus of AAP is the poor people and wants an early solution to the mining issue. Gomes also expressed apprehensions about the government’s stand saying it is not result-oriented, but assured that AAP will not oppose an amendment in the MMDR Act if it is proposed by the government.
Shiv Sena leaders while addressing mining dependents after their march in the city, also extended their support to the demand for early resumption of mining.
