PANAJI
Congress on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party hasn’t done enough since February 7 to restart mining in the state, even as it reiterated that the saffron party has been in ‘sleep mode’ over the issue for the last four months.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, GPCC spokesperson Yatish Naik questioned what the BJP has done to solve the mining issue since the Supreme Court judgement in February cancelling second mining lease renewals.
Naik said, “For almost four months, the BJP has made no effort to bring those concerned directly or indirectly with mining and the politicians concerned to the same table to discuss the issue.”
He pointed out that though the BJP had sent a delegation from Goa to Delhi in connection with the mining issue, it did not even meet the PM, instead of meeting with staff in the PM’s office. “After a lot of empty, hollow, and senseless talk, there has been no solution offered and no action taken on an issue that affects the livelihoods of lakhs of Goans. Does the PM have no time for Goa, or are Goa’s issues not important enough for him?” questioned Naik.
Naik went on to say that while addressing Goa in his recent videos, CM Manohar Parrikar, who has now been absent from Goa for more than 100 days due to health issues, did not find it fit to touch upon the mining issue. Moreover, the CM has taken his portfolios with him to the USA instead of entrusting them to BJP leaders in Goa.
“Even though the BJP constantly speaks about a review petition, the Congress along with the people of Goa would now like to see some action taken instead of mere words,” stressed Naik.
In reference to Shripad Naik, MP from North Goa, the Congress spokesperson said that it was unclear why the former had not joined the Goa delegation to Delhi to talk about such an important matter. “Either the MP does not view the issue as important enough, or he was left out of the delegation,” Yatish Naik said of the North Goa MP.
Naik went on to list the ways in which the BJP have proved themselves, enemies of the country’s economy, starting with demonetisation, which preceded what Naik called “a messy implementation of GST”, rising petrol prices, and a public debt of Rs 16,000 crore. “With its inability to solve the mining issue, the BJP continues to prove that it is incapable, incompetent and directionless,” stated Naik.
