the goan I network
PONDA
Politicians from Goa air dashed to the national capital in support the ongoing protest rallies of mining dependents at Ram-Leela Maidan in New Delhi. They called on the central government to work a way out for recommencement of mining activities in Goa. Interestingly, Goa Forward, an ally of the BJP-led govt, has warned that it should not be taken for granted on the issue.
Nearly a thousand mining dependents from Goa are participating in a three-day dharna which commenced on Tuesday morning to demand resumption of mining in the State.
On Tuesday, BJP leaders including speaker Pramod Sawant, MPs Vinay Tendulkar, Narendra Sawaikar, Shripad Naik, Minister for Power Nilesh Cabral, Goa forward president and Minister for TCP Vijai Sardesai, GFP MLAs Vinod Palyekar and Jayesh Salgaonkar, NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, office bearers of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee, Goa Shiv Sena President Jitesh Kamat, General Secretary Milind Gauns and Vice President Rakhi Prabhudessai visited the mining dependents to support them.
Though Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) has launched an agitation in the national capital to draw the attention of the central government, no politicians from other states apart from Goa visited them, probably due to assembly election results of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram declared on Tuesday.
Speaking to ‘The Goan’ from New Delhi, GMPF convener Puti Gaonkar said that Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena is expected to visit them on Wednesday. “Today, apart from Goan politicians no other turned up here. But Sanjay Raut has confirmed that he will come on Wednesday. We expect some leaders to visit us on Thursday at the Jantar Mantar.” Gaonkar said.
Speaking to media persons in Delhi, Vijai Sardesai said that he feels sad to see the plight of mining dependents. “I feel action is needed to restart mining. It should come at the earliest,” he said.
Sardesai said that nobody should take GFP for granted. “If they (BJP) don’t have a
