the goan I network
VASCO
Claiming that the agitation by mining dependents on Monday was meant to be peaceful, the Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) blamed other groups for getting involved in the agitation in a bid to vent out their personal anger against the State government.
Speaking to reporters in Vasco on Tuesday, GBOA President Raymond D’Sa said the GBOA had withdrawn its decision to block the Mandovi navigation channel by barges, following a request by the government.
“Our protest was meant to be a peaceful agitation, but some groups with the intention of venting their revenge and anger on the government participated in our agitation and we were not aware of their intentions.”
“The ministers had approached us during the strike and we should have given them an opportunity to speak. Only PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar was allowed to speak, while other ministers were not allowed to address the gathering. Some groups got involved in our agitation and vented their anger through our agitation,” regretted D’Sa.
“We have not agitated against the Supreme Court order and our demands are only to resume mining activity. We did not want the agitation to be like the way it happened on Monday.”
“We decided to go on the roads peacefully only to show our solidarity and to reveal to the government how many people lives would be affected if mining activity were to stop,” added D’Sa.
D’Sa said they had already placed their demands with the three-member Cabinet Advisory Committee.
“We have placed our demands. We want them to resume mining and to direct banks to stop taking immediate action by threatening to auction houses and assets. We have also requested the government to take over our loans of Rs 109 crore or to freeze the loans so that we can pay after mining resumes,” said D’Sa.
