the goan I network
QUEPEM
A day after mining dependents from North Goa decided to stage a massive ‘Chalo Panaji’ protest rally on March 19, it was the turn of mining dependents from the south to adopt a similar decision on Saturday.
Hundreds of mining dependents attending a meeting at Kamaxi hall in Sanvordem overwhelmingly supported and confirmed their participation in the massive rally and meeting at Panaji on Monday.
Those present at the meeting included truck owners, machinery owners, mining workers, garage owners, hotel owners, truck drivers and others directly and indirectly dependent on mining activity.
Hailing the support and efforts of MLAs Nilesh Cabral and Deepak Pavaskar to their cause, Dharbandora Deputy Sarpanch Balaji Gawas criticised the Goa Forward Party and MGP for their false promises in resolving the situation.
Chief Minister Monohar Parrikar, who is undergoing medical treatment in the USA, was also not spared from the criticism, with Gawas saying that Parrikar was also responsible for the mining crisis in the State, since Parrikar had earlier said he had stopped the mining activity.
Former Panchawadi Panch Avdoot Naik requested everyone to set aside their political ideologies and stand in unison to defend the injustice meted out to them.
Criticizing the State government and its ministers for failing to take steps to file a review petition for over a month after the Supreme Court delivered its order, Naik said it was evident that they are only fooling the people.
“If the governments at the Centre and State, both ruled by the BJP, are helpless, it is not because they cannot do it but because they do not want to do it,” thundered Naik.
Ridiculing politicians for going to Delhi unprepared, Naik said they had gone without any written documentation and ended up returning without any concrete solution.
Although there were different opinions on whether mining leases should be renewed or auctioned, the gathering fully endorsed the protest rally and meeting proposed at Panaji on March 19, to express their strong opposition to the mining ban.
