the goan I network
PONDA
Terming Delhi as deaf and dumb with Prime Minister Narendra Modi unable to listen to the voices of mining dependents agitating in the national capital, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said his party would raise the mining issue in Lok Sabha and suggested a Goa bandh to highlight the issue.
Raut met the mining dependents who were staging their dharna at the Ramleela Maidan for the second day and pledged his party’s support to their cause.
“This is not a political issue. This is related with employment and livelihood for the family. Hence, we all should support the cause,” Raut said.
“Delhi is deaf and dumb. I don’t think the prime minister will listen to you. It is better if a Goa bandh is staged and airport operations are stalled. Only then something will happen. How many times will you come to Delhi? This fight should be in Goa itself. Let the Goan leaders lead it, we will fully support you,” Raut said.
“This issue is related with humanity. Hence, all differences should be kept aside and we should support this fight to get justice. The nation witnessed British rule and Goans have seen Portuguese rule, but they were not against the livelihood of the people. If the PM wishes, he can resolve the issue within five minutes,” Raut added.
He also asked Congress leader and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who was sharing the dais with him, to lead the protest and to observe the Goa bandh.
Raut also said his party was to have raised the issue during parliament session on Wednesday, but could not do so as business could not take place.
AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, former union minister Ramakant Khalap, former chief minister Fransico Sardinha, Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, Valanka Alemao, Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar, Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pauskar and others met the mining dependents in Delhi.
Digambar Kamat said the BJP-led government should find a legislative solution to restart mining activity.
“The BJP has a government in Goa and also at the Centre. For them, it is easy to bring some solution on this issue. There are lakhs of mining dependents who are suffering due to suspension of mining,” Kamat said.
Later speaking to The Goan, Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) Convenor Puti Gaonkar said apart from Sanjay Raut and Sanjay Singh, no other MP except those from Goa had visited them so far.
“On Thursday, we will stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar. I hope we will get good support there,” he said.
Sources informed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet the mining dependents at Jantar Mantar.
Besides Vishwajit Rane, other politicians who visited the mining dependents have also demanded the Prime Minister’s intervention to resume mining activity in the State.
