the goan I network
PANAJI
A delegation of Goa’s leaders called on several central leaders in a bid to arrive at a solution on the mining issue, and expressed the hope that since “things are moving in the right direction” a way forward will be arrived at quickly.
The delegation which left for Delhi on Wednesday evening, and is led by the MGP’s Sudin Dhavalikar has however been criticized by the Congress party for not including Congress members as part of the delegation.
Speaking to The Goan, South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar informed that they had two rounds of meetings with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and that they met a Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister’s office.
“There is another round of meetings scheduled for tomorrow. Things are moving in the right direction. We are hopeful of a way forward,” Sawaikar said.
The delegation was also hoping to meet party president Amit Shah as well as Attorney General K K Venugopal but those meetings are yet to happen.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has criticized the ruling BJP for ignoring them while leaving for Delhi.
Speaking a press conference Congress Pernem MLA Dayanand Sopte said that the party is serious about wanting a solution to the mining issue.
“When they organised an all-party delegation the previous time our leaders Babu Kavlekar and Nilkanth Halarnkar were part of the delegation,” Sopte said.
He said that the party has written to the Prime Minister about how the local BJP government has failed the people of Goa.
“The BJP led Government led by Manohar Parrikar is only giving false hope to the people of Goa without providing any relief despite having Central and State governments since the closure of mining 7 years back. Many mining companies have started retrenchment of its employees and hundreds of mining-affected people are agitating all over Goa having no clear future,” Chodankar said in his letter.
“If the mining activity is not resumed immediately after the monsoons, the economy of the State will be in real
Mining dependents to hold mega meeting at Usgao today
PONDA: The Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) on Thursday evening staged a candlelight march in Ponda to draw attention of the State government to restart mining activity. The GMPF has also organised a meeting on Friday at 4 pm in the premises of Gomantak Vidyalay at Tisk Usgao. According to GMPF President Puti Gaonkar, thousands of mining dependents are expected to attend the meeting. The GMPF has used various mediums to convey the message regarding the proposed meeting to the people, with a special video even going on social media. A GMPF delegation has also invited all MLAs and members of parliament to the meeting.
