PONDA
BJP leaders faced the fury of agitating truck operators when they went to Usgao to address the protesters on Thursday.
The agitating truck operators came down heavily on Sakhali MLA Dr Pramod Sawant and State BJP President Vinay Tendulkar, claiming that they should not be allowed to speak, and levelled allegations against Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar.
Dr Sawant, who had initially supported the agitating truckers, was accused of later distancing himself from them.
“Some claim that I have run away from the agitation. It is not like that. I am with you. I will stay with you till the demand is met,” Dr Sawant assured the agitating truck operators.
“I am also of opinion that the rate of ore transportation be fixed at earliest, and hence, I have spoken with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar in this matter,” he said.
He was then interrupted by the protesters, who asked him to explain why he had distanced himself from the agitation. Dr Sawant sought to clarify his position in the matter.
Tendulkar then informed the protesters that Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had invited them to discuss about the rate and assured that the government would be with them.
AGTOA President Nilkanth Gawas then placed his conditions and stated that cases against them be withdrawn, and that, their trucks should not barred from transporting ore.
“Only then are we ready to discuss the issue,” Gawas said.
Tendulkar later assured to resolve the issue within two days. Tivim's BJP MLA Kiran Kandolkar also lent his support, and said that the government would work on fixing the rate of ore transportation.
