MARGAO
Bharatiya Janata Party MP and National spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday sought to allay the fears of the fishermen on the CRZ 2019 notification saying it will not impact the geography of Goa.
On the sensitive mining issue, however, Lekhi said people at the Centre and in the State are working out a solution to the issue following the Supreme Court’s order on mining.
She assured that the BJP will take up with the Centre issues concerning CRZ and the destruction it would cause to the khazans and the livelihood of the fishing communities.
At a media briefing held at the South Goa BJP district office on Monday ahead of her planned interaction with a group of fishermen from the district, Lekhi initially said the community members should leave their fears aside, while asserting that the CRZ 2019 notification does not impact the geographical location of Goa.
“The notification will have no impact on Goa. Someone is deliberately trying to misguide the fishermen,” she said, while saying there are only two minor areas (very minuscule) which need to be addressed.
When the media, however, drew her attention to the 2011 notification that had given protection to the khazan lands and which are threatened by the 2019 notification, Lekhi replied saying she is in Goa to hear the views of the fishermen. “I am here to listen to the views of the fishermen as part of the party’s manifesto preparation exercise. We will address their issues,” she said.
When the media sought to know whether her promise will help the fishermen since the government has come out with the notification despite representations made by the people, Lekhi sought to assure that there’s no politics behind her exercise in interacting with the fishermen. “I would like to say that elections are about politics and elections are also about setting policies right. The best part of democracy is that you make your point and the same is taken note of,” she added, while reiterating her charge that some people with vested interests have raked up the CRZ issue when the notification does not impact Goa.
Meanwhile, Lekhi said the Narendra Modi government worked for all sections of the people with protection to all and appeasement for none. She said the country has progressed on various fronts during the last five years and has emerged as one of the leading developing countries in the world.
