Battle cry for mining today

UPPING THE ANTE
>> We have invited all political parties to support us, says GMPF Convenor Puti Gaonkar
>> He says State and Central governments should be held responsible if chaos prevails
>> He confirmed that mining dependents would stage dharna in New Delhi from Dec 11 to 13
>> Gaonkar is confident that about 1,000 mining dependents will go to New Delhi this week
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WHAT DOES GMPF WANT
Parliament to pass an amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill, 1957 so that mining leases in Goa get an extension till 2037
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PONDA: The Goa Mining People's Front has convened a mega meeting at Azad Maidan in Panaji on Tuesday at 10.30 am, to seek justice in resuming mining activity in Goa. They are also firm in staging their dharna at Ramleela Maidan and Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from December 11 to 13.
Speaking to 'The Goan', GMPF Convenor Puti Gaonkar said they would hold their meeting on Tuesday morning and will later stage a dhrana in Delhi.
"We have invited all political parties to support us," said Gaonkar.
The GMPF has threatened to take law in their hand if nothing is done to resume mining in the State.
“So far, our agitations have been peaceful, but in the coming days if chaos prevails, the State and Central governments would be held responsible,” warned Gaonkar.
Gaonkar also confirmed that the mining dependents would stage a dharna in New Delhi from December 11 to 13.
"On December 10, we will register our members who arrive in Delhi. Initially, we were to stage our dharna at Jantar Mantar from December 11 to 13, but we did not receive permission to stage a dharna there on December 11 and 12. Hence, we shifted our dharna to Ramleela maidan on those days, while our protest on the third day will be held at Jantar Mantar,” informed Gaonkar.
“We are hopeful that politicians will support us there too," he added.
Gaonkar was confident that about 1,000 mining dependents will go to New Delhi this week.
Incidentally, the GMPF had earlier sent out a warning that it would not allow those political parties working against them, to campaign in the mining belt during the Lok Sabha election.
Last month, the mining dependents had called on BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, who had assured to give then an option within 15 days, while MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar had threatened to withdraw support to the government if mining is not resumed by December 15.
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GOVT NOTIFIES EXTENSION
OF DEBT RELIEF SCHEME

PANAJI: The Goa government has notified the extension of the debt relief scheme for mining affected borrowers up to the end of the current financial year. The decision to extend the scheme had been taken at the cabinet meeting held at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's private residence on October 30. The scheme's extension, however, is limited only to proposals pending with the financial institutions and those that were rejected earlier, states the notification.