NT NETWORK
Ponda
Puti Gaonkar, a senior leader of mining dependants, on Friday announced that he will join the Aam Aadmi Party on November 7, with the express intention to defeat the BJP and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the 2022 assembly elections.
Gaonkar, who recently floated ‘Goa Rajya Nav Nirman Aaghadi’, a pressure group of mining dependants, told media persons in Ponda that mining
operations would be resumed in the state, if the AAP comes to power upon the assembly polls.
“If the AAP comes to power in the state, I can resume mining within six months,” he maintained.
Gaonkar said that he has been impressed by the working style of AAP’s national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“The AAP has delivered on its promises (in Delhi). I believe that people of Goa, who want change this time, will choose the AAP over other parties for a clean and non-corrupt government,” Gaonkar emphasised.
The AAP has promised that if it comes to power then a “monthly dole of Rs 5,000” each will be given to the mining dependants until mining operations are resumed in the state, Gaonkar said.
He clarified that the Rajya Nav Nirman Aaghadi will continue to exist even after he joins the AAP, and that it will work for the betterment of people.
“Mining resumption and conferment of land rights on forest-dwellers are two main objectives of the front. But defeating the BJP and Pramod Sawant is my main focus. I think it’s possible with the support of the AAP,” Gaonkar enunciated.
He said that he will contest the assembly polls against Sawant from the Sankhali constituency on AAP ticket, urging other parties to support him, if they want to defeat the Chief Minister.
He accused the BJP of deliberately not resolving the mining tangle.
