the goan I network
PONDA
In what could be a major embarrassment to the State government, the Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) has decided to demonstrate during the inauguration of the third Mandovi bridge by waving black flags at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12, to draw his attention to the mining issue in Goa.
They have also warned of working against him at the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, if he fails to resolve their issue.
The GMPF leaders expect about 10,000-12,000 people to gather in Panaji to wave black flags at the PM.
GMPF members and leaders of other political parties convened a meeting in Usgao on Thursday to decide about their plan to intensify their agitation and unanimously decided to greet the prime minister with black flags.
Shiv Sena state president Jitesh Kamat, Shiv Sena General secretary Milind Gawas, Congress office bearers, Khemalo Sawant and Joe Dias, Goa Forward Party leader Santosh Sawant and GSM leader Subhash Velingkar were present at the meeting, which was presided over by GMPF Convenor Puti Gaonkar.
Others present also included president of Dharbandora Taluka Truck Owners Association Balaji Gauns, Suresh Desai, Sandeep Pauskar, Mahesh Gauns and many other mining dependent leaders.
The members had initially discussed plans to stage a Goa Bandh during the prime minister’s arrival in Goa, but some members pointed out that if the Bandh were to be staged on the same day, their plan to wave black flags at the PM would get diluted as all leaders would have to remain present in their respective areas for the bandh.
The mining dependents, instead, preferred to stage the Goa Bandh on another day.
“If the prime minister fails to resolve our issue during his visit to Goa, we will then decide about the date of the Goa Bandh that day itself,” Puti Gaonkar told media persons.
Asked if they would be allowed to wave black flags near the venue of the Mandovi bridge opening especially since a police force had been deployed in huge numbers during the new Khandepar bridge inauguration event, Gaonkar said: “We will protest wherever we get a chance there.”
“We will stand along the road from where the PM is expected to pass by. If we are not allowed near the venue, we may stand 2-3 kms away, but we will show him black flags,” Gaonkar reiterated.
“Our demand is to resume mining activity. Hence, we request Prime Minister Modi to address us during his visit to Goa. We are ready to court arrest while protesting. This is last chance for the PM to pay heed to our demands,” Gaonkar added.
“Modi had once claimed he became the prime minister because of Goa. Now if he fails to resolve our issue, we will work to ensure that he doesn’t become the prime minister again,” he warned.
Jitesh Kamat said Modi should first meet them when he visits Goa to inaugurate the third Mandovi bridge.
He also assured to take mining dependents to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thakeray to discuss about an appointment with the PM. “His voice
can reach the PM. Ultimately we want justice for the mining dependents,” said Kamat.
The mining dependents present at the meeting vented out their anger against Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and MGP leader and PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, claiming that the two leaders had been fooling them in the mining issue.
It may be recalled that the mining dependents had called off their protest during the inauguration of the new Khandepar bridge, only after Dhavalikar had assured that Parrikar would secure an appointment for the delegation to meet up with the prime minister.
“He gave us an assurance and then forgot about it. They are fooling us. Don’t rely on them,” some mining dependents shouted at the meeting.
