PANAJI: Minister for Public Works Ramakrishna Dhavalikar has said that the agitation by the mining dependants turned violent following delivery of provocative speeches by the taxi union leaders.
He was speaking to media persons after the meeting of the cabinet advisory committee held on Wednesday at Secretariat to review the incident which took place on Monday.
Dhavalikar said that the agitation was peaceful in the beginning and the government had given them instruction to hold morcha either at Campal or near Central Library at Patto as Azad Maidan was not available.
“Taxi union joined agitation without prior intimation, thus their act was illegal,” he added. The committee also stated that the lathi-charge order was not given by the collector and rejected the demand made by the Congress party for a judicial enquiry in the matter.
Vijay Sardesai, who was also present, said that police acted only after all other possibilities to persuade the protestors were exhausted. That police acted in self defence can be surmised from the fact that more police personnel were injured than the agitators, the committee members said.
Dhavalikar further said that the state government will complete the procedure pertaining to mining issue in next four to five days, as discussed during the meetings with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Francis D’souza stated that the Supreme Court order on mining has to be accepted in letter and spirit by the government and it must work as directed by the apex court.