OPEN THREAT
>> GMPF president Puthi Gaonkar said he wouldn't allow candidates to campaign in mining areas for parliamentary election if the issue was not solved soon>> The chain of strikes which is going on in five places for the last few months will continue till the mining issue is resolved, said Gaonkar
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EXPECTING BREAKTHROUGH
WITHIN A MONTH: SAWANT
PANAJI: Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly said that, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the union government are working on a solution to restart mining operations in Goa. "All the three BJP MPs along with Nilesh Cabral and myself are continuously following up the matter. We are expecting a breakthrough within a month. Everyone should be patient and not rile those who are working towards a solution." If Congress is serious about solving the problem, why are they filing cases against the two CMs who restarted the industry in 2015? This is nothing but hypocrisy, he added.
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PANAJI: Sparks flew at the Azad Maidan on Friday where politicians flocked to demonstrate support the strike by Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF) for resumption of mining.
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral visited the site where a one-day token hunger strike was held at Azad Maidan by volunteers of the GMPF but he was taken by surprise when he was heckled and persistently questioned by the agitators over the resumption of mining.
Leaders of all parties came and extended support to the agitation throughout the day.
GMPF gave an ultimatum for amendment of law in the upcoming Parliament session for restart of mining which has come to a halt since March 2018.
GMPF president Puthi Gaonkar demanded an amendment to Section 2 of the Goa Daman and Diu (Abolition of Concession and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987 so that concessions to leases can be implemented from 1987, the year when the Act was passed in Parliament, and not from retrospective 1961. With this amendment, validity of leases will extend from 2007 to 2045.
Also, GMPF along with with over 1000 mining dependent people will stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar Delhi on the first three days of the upcoming Parliament session which is supposed to be held in November-December. Gaonkar claimed that all party MLAs have assured support to this agitation. He claimed that around 60,000 workers have been affected directly due to the ban on mining activity and another 3 lakh dependents have taken indirect hit.
Raising the pitch, Gaonkar also threatened not to allow candidates to campaign in the mining areas for parliamentary election if the issue was not solved by then.
"Only those who are with us will be allowed to campaign," he said.
He also said that that the chain strike which is going on in five places for the last few months will continue till the mining issue is resolved.
North Goa MP and Ayush Minister Shripad Naik spoke of Government's assurance of amending the law in the upcoming Parliament session to solve the issue. The primary draft of the amendment was ready, he added.
BJP MLA Michael Lobo who also visited the site of the agitation criticised the government decision on mining. "Our MPs have not done anything for resumption of mining," he said while adding that, he was ready to resign if mining is not resumed.
"All the 40 MLAs should give a serious thought on early resumption of mining."
Goa Forward Party (GFP) leader Durgadas Kamat said that party will join the agitation.
Shiv Sena national leader and MP Sanjay Raut who was also present at the spot assured the agitating members of his party MPs' backing in the Parliament over resumption of mining in Goa. He also said that his party take an active part in the bandh, if staged.
Goa Suraksha Manch leader and former RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar criticised Chief Manohar Parrikar for his steps which have affected the mining industry in Goa.
Heated arguments took place between Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and mining dependents. Cabral said that he was always with mining dependent people.
Nationalist Congress party legislator Churchill Alemao, Speaker Pramod Sawant, Congress MLAs Digambar Kamat, opposition Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar, Goa Pradesh Congress leader Girish Chodankar, Ramakant Khalap, MLA Ravi Naik, Pratapsingh Rane were other leaders who came in support of the mining dependents.
Babu Kavlekar said that all parties should come in support of mining resumption, keeping apart the political differences.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that he was ready to resign if mining didn't resume in Goa. He also said that there is lacuna in every business, but it does not mean that the entire business should be stopped.
Pratapsingh Rane said the mining-dependent areas from his constituency have become economically unstable. Mining ban has made 50 thousand people jobless. Stoppage of mining has also affected markets and other businesses.
It may be recalled that that Supreme court through its order on February 7, 2018, had quashed operations of 88 mining leases questioning their renewal by the State government. before that, the mining was banned in 2012 first which was later lifted by the apex court in 2014, with restrictions. Colonial Portuguese has granted mining leases on permanent concession to some mine owners before Goa was liberated in 1961.These mining concessions were converted to 50 years mining leases through the Goa Daman and Diu (Abolition of Concession and Declaration as Mining Leases) act passed in 1987 with retrospective effect form 1961 when the Goa was liberated. As per this law the tenure for the mining has lapsed in 2007.
