Team Herald
CURCHOREM: Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has assured to protest with the mining dependents at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, if the State unit of BJP fails to get an appointment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brief him about the need for commencing mining.
Cabral made the assurance to the mining dependents when they called on him at his Curchorem residence on Wednesday. They met him under the banner of All Goa Mining Peoples Front (AGMPF) to know the efforts being taken by the government to resume mining.
“Our party will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an appointment to brief him about the need for commencing mining and if failed to get appointment, I will sit with you to protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi,” Cabral said the mining dependents who called on him.
Cabral further said that many representations have been submitted to the Central government authorities; even delegations have met them, but nothing is happening. “Therefore, as a last effort we will meet the prime minister as only he can solve the issue and there is no point in meeting the other ministers,” he said.
“People elect the government, while the bureaucrats are paid by the government. Therefore, the government needs the political will to overrule the decisions of the bureaucracy,” Cabral said and informed that he overruled many illegal decisions of the bureaucracy of the State.
Expressing his views on leases, Cabral said the 143 leases given during the Portuguese era should be renewed immediately by finding political solutions and the rest can be auctioned as per national policy. “If the Ordinance issued, then, it can be challenged in the Court. Therefore, the only solution is to pass the Bill in the Parliament and it should go to the Parliament before commencement of the session. And if the government fails to do so, then, the intention of the government will be exposed,” Cabral said.
