Leaders across party lines to back mining dependants

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

A three-day protest by Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF), an umbrella body of mining dependants, to press for resumption of mining activity in the state will start from December 11 at the Ramlila Maidan and Jantar Mantar in New Delhi wherein several politicians from the ruling benches as well as the opposition are expected to visit the national capital and offer support to the mining dependants.

In view of the winter session of the Parliament, which begins from December 11, the mining dependants are scheduled to hold the protest between December 11 and 13 demanding an amendment to the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act so that mining

can restart in the state.

Mining activities in Goa came to a standstill in March this year after the Supreme Court quashed 88 leases and banned the extraction of fresh ore.

From the ruling dispensation, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Goa Forward Party and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party will participate in the protest. Congress leaders will also participate thus extending their support too to the mining dependants.

BJP state unit president and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar said that various party leaders will participate in the protest on all the three days. “Sakhali MLA and Speaker of Goa assembly Pramod Sawant has already left for the national capital. Both our Lok Sabha MPs – Shripad Naik and Narendra Sawaikar and I, besides other leaders, will also be present with the mining dependants,” he said. Tendulkar also said that the appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi with regard to the mining imbroglio is yet to be finalised.

Goa Forward Party chief and Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai confirmed that he along with legislators Vinod Palyekar and Jayesh Salgaoncar would be visiting the agitators on December 11 in the afternoon.

MGP president Pandurang ‘Deepak’ Dhavalikar said that the party’s MLA Deepak Pauskar is already in New Delhi and working president of the party Narayan Sawant along with central committee members Mahesh Panjikar and Pratap Fadte will join him in the protest. Dhavalikar said that neither he nor his brother Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, who is a senior minister in the cabinet will be able to make it to the national capital.

Independent legislator from Sanguem Prasad Gaonkar said that he will join the mining dependants on December 12. However, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte said that he would not participate in the protest organised by the mining dependants.

Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude said that he will not participate in the protest, as the mining dependants have not requested him personally. He, however, said that he totally sympathises with their demand, as it is a question of their livelihood.

The delegation of the Congress party will be travelling to New Delhi on December 13. All India Congress Committee secretary in-charge of Goa desk A Chellakumar, speaking to this daily, said that the delegation led by leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar will visit the mining dependants at Jantar Mantar.

“Margao MLA Digambar Kamat will be going on December 12 whereas Thivim MLA Nilkanth Haldankar will accompany us on December 13. There is a possibility that central Congress leaders may also visit Jantar Mantar to understand the plight of the mining dependants and extend their support,” Chellakumar said.

Goa Mining People’s Front leader Puti Gaonkar said that over 600 mining dependants have already reached New Delhi adding that political leaders from all the parties have assured to visit them at the Ramlila Maidan. He also said that Power Minister Nilesh Cabral will address the protesters on December 11 at 10.30 am and GFP legislators led by Sardesai will visit them at 2.30 pm.