PANJIM: The Goa Bachao Abhiyan on Tuesday condemned the use of intimidating tactics and personal attacks against Claude Alvares of Goa Foundation who has exposed the extent of fraud and illegal mining in Goa, the facts on which the Supreme Court has acted upon and stopped pending clean up of system.
“Such massive fraud and illegalities are a crime against the people of Goa, the State and the Union of India. With this background, we are aghast that the State government can sit back and allow such public instigation of violence to continue against a person who has dutifully upheld the law,” the press release by Convenor Sabina Martins and Secretary Reboni Saha said.
The GBA said that the verbal attacks on Claude, in this case, amounts to an attack on the laws of India and the Supreme Court; and should not be tolerated.
“What we see is diversionary tactics, with the Goa Mining People’s Front allowing themselves to be used as pawns by a select few illegal mining interests instead of using their energies constructively. They could have benefitted from the recovery of thousands of crores from the large scale illegal mining loot, a sum the government has yet to recover, why is this not their agenda for a better tomorrow?” the release says.
The GBA further said that the best practices through auctions and methods of equitable distribution of resources have been repeatedly highlighted as balanced ways forward and yet it is being rejected outright by a select few mining interests in fear of finally being brought under legal scrutiny.
“It is time for all sensible thinking people to come together and work a way around sustainable development, as it is clear that the old ways of rampant greed and destruction cannot be continued for the profit of a few families and businesses,” it says.
