the goan I network
MARGAO
Former union minister and NCP’s Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government had taken up the cause of the seafarers with the Centre and expressed happiness they would soon return to Goa.
“We were made aware about the plight of the seafarers from Goa by Goa State NCP President Jose Philip D’Souza,” said Patel, while speaking from Mumbai. “We took up the issue with the Maharashtra government, who raised the matter with the Navy and the Centre. We even took up the issue with the union home ministry and got the notification from MHA last night,” said Patel.
When contacted, D’Souza said he had been in constant touch with NCP leaders in Maharashtra on the issue.
“After the seafarers made a desperate appeal via a video message on Tuesday, I alerted Patel about the urgency of the situation and he assured me of taking up the issue immediately,” D’Souza stated.
