PONDA
The mining dependents have condemned the home department’s act of issuing summons to leaders of various associations, who had agitated in Panaji last month. The plan of marching again in Panaji to lodge their strong protest has been suspended for a while.
The meeting of various associations pertaining to mining convened in Dharbandora held government responsible for turning the agitation violent. The president of Barge Owners Association Raymod D’Sa, President of Dharbandora Taluka Truck Association Balaji alias Vinayak Gawas, president of Sesa Truck Owners Association Vallabh Dalavi, president of All Goa Truck Owners Association Nilkanth Gawas, President of Machinery Owners Association Sandip Parab, Sanvordem Sarpanch Sandeep Pawaskar and around 100 odd mining dependents were present for the meeting.
The perturbed mining dependents said that government is trying to suppress their voice by issuing summons. However they will not stoop to it.
Balaji Gawas, who has been summoned and asked to remain present at police headquarters on Monday evening, said that there is no statement of government over mining resumption, but it is threatening them by sending summons. “I have done nothing to make agitation violent, but still summons have been sent to me. This is not correct,” he said.
He told the gathering that in this situation whoever is issued summons, should not apply for anticipatory bail go to jail. “Present situation suggests that for next five years mining will not start. Now either we should go to jail or let us take another morcha in our trucks,” he said.
The members had initially decided to march to Panaji on Monday evening supporting Balaji Gawas and others who have been summoned. But while culminating the meeting they sought to take legal opinion.
Vallabh Desai said that government is targeting the leaders of mining associations. “Even I am ready to go to jail, provided you all back me,” he said.
Sandeep Parab said that the government should withdraw cases against them. “We all should come under one banner and fight for justice. We should be united. Government is purposely targeting us by sending summons,” Parab said.
Nilkanth Gawas also lambasted the government and said that it is responsible for the agitation which turned violent as they were stopped from heading towards Azad Maidan.
Sandeep Pawaskar said that the Portuguese had started mining for Goa’s economy. “Tourism is now, but earlier Goa was fully dependent on mining. Last 60 years, government resorted to looting in the mining belts. There is no mistake of the apex court for stopping mining activities as the State government had failed to present the exact ground reality,” Pawaskar said.
