the goan I network
PANAJI
The Congress on Monday slammed the three Goa MPs, specifically Union Ayush Minister and North Goa MP Shripad Naik for doing nothing by way of getting an appointment for mining dependents with the Prime Minister.
Speaking on behalf of the party, Tivim MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar, flanked by former Union Law Minister Adv Ramakant Khalap, and party spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar, told press persons that Naik was letting down the Bhandari Samaj in Goa, as most of the people who had voted for him were from the Bhandari Samaj. He added that it was a double blow, as most people affected by the stopping of mining in the state were also from the Bhandari community.
“All three MPs are from the BJP, the government at the Centre is BJP’s, yet the MPs have not even been able to get an appointment for the mining dependents with the PM,” said Halarnkar. Halarnkar further alleged that Naik was being sidelined by the BJP because he came from the Bhandari Samaj. “The government doesn’t seem to have any respect for him,” said Halarnkar.
Halarnkar, meanwhile, reiterated the apathy of the government with regards to the resumption of mining in the state. “Even when an all-party delegation met Union Minister Nithin Gadkari, we were not entertained,” he said. “We don’t know what is happening, but the government seems to be lying when they talk about restarting mining,” he added, stressing that the Congress would support the government if it chose to restart mining in the State.
Minister Sudin Dhavalikar from the MGP had, a week ago, written to the PM seeking an appointment with him to talk about resumption of mining.
However, it is unclear whether the three BJP MPs have made any attempt to get an appointment with the PM.
