Team Herald
PANJIM: Around 3,000 mining dependents are expected to gather at Azad Maidan on Tuesday to chalk out its action plan for Jantar Mantar, where they will hold a sit-in protest on the first three days of the Parliament session, beginning from December 11, pressing for their nine-month long demand of recommencement of iron ore mining activities.
Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) leader Puti Gaonkar said they have decided to hold protest march at Jantar Mantar on December 11, 12 and 13, which are the first three days of the Parliament session.
“We have met political leaders across sections, for their support and have invited them to be part of the protest in a bid to build up pressure on the Central government to amend the necessary provisions of the Act,” Gaonkar said.
Around 1000 people will participate in the demonstration in Delhi. The first batch of 500 people will leave on December 5.
He said to decide the action plan; a public meeting is called at Azad Maidan on Tuesday which will be attended by around 3000 people from the mining belt.
“The action plan for Jantar Mantar will be decided during the meeting. It’s time for Delhi politicians to know our strength. We will continue to fight till justice is delivered,” Gaonkar said.
GMPF, during its sit in protest, will press for amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) 2015 and Goa, Daman and Diu Mining Concessions (Abolition and Declaration as Mining Leases) Act, 1987, to help extending life of leases till 2037.
Leaders from various political parties such as BJP, Goa Forward Party, MGP, Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena have announced their participation for the sit-in protest at Delhi.
