Team Herald
PANJIM: Accusing the State government of suppressing their voice by a forceful lathi charge, angry mining dependents have in-principle decided not to meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is on a special visit to Goa to listen to the woes of those affected by the mining closure and work out a collective solution.
Speaking to Herald, All Goa Truck Owners Association president Nilkant Gawas said there is no point in meeting Gadkari. “After what happened today (lathi charge), we have lost all hopes. There is no point in meeting anyone. Most likely we are not going to meet Gadkari,” he said.
Hundreds of mining dependents who had gathered at Kranti Circle near KTC bus stand on Monday demanding resumption of mining activities, resorted to violence and blocked vehicular traffic along the national highway for over four hours, forcing police to lathi charge.
Gawas said the police action of lathi charge was to suppress the agitation and place them in a bad light. “Right now, we are busy administering first aid, 11 people have been arrested, we are busy getting them out,” he said, adding, “We will soon decide our future course of action.”
