Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally at an indoor stadium near Panaji on April 10.
“Several Central leaders including Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani will be campaigning in Goa. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is also expected,” said Union AYUSH Minister Sripad Naik, who is contesting for the fifth time from North Goa.
The four-time MP said on Wednesday that only a BJP government at the Centre could resolve the mining ban issue in Goa.
At his press conference at BJP headquarters here, Mr. Naik was asked if the Supreme Court-imposed ban on the mining industry would have any impact on his victory from North Goa seat for the fifth consecutive time, Mr. Naik said: “We are making active efforts to resolve the issue. The BJP alone will resolve the issue, as Our leadership is committed to it, which is why they will vote for BJP.”
The Goa Mining People’s Front(GMPF), an umbrella organisation of various categories of mining dependents has repeatedly slammed the BJP for not doing enough to restart mining operations in the State.
Mr. Naik denied this and claimed that he had reached out to leaders of the GMPF as part of his poll campaign and assured them of every support to get the industry back on track.
“I have met them and explained to them the commitment of our leaders to resolve the issue,”Mr. Naik said.
Mr. Naik is pitted against Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar in the North Goa Lok Sabha seat for which election would be held on April 23.