PANJIM: In a fierce attack, Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai on Thursday warned of re-thinking its decision of supporting BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha 2019 elections if they fail to resolve the current mining crisis in the State.
The GFP president, crediting his party for the stability of the Manohar Parrikar-led government in the State, went on to say that the BJP would face major consequences in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2019 polls if the mining issue is not resolved at the earliest.
Addressing the media, Sardesai said, “The BJP government which is in the Centre should try and immediately work on solutions to the current mining crisis in the State. We need to think about the future of Goa and its people. Goa Forward is fully committed towards the people who are affected by the mining shutdown in Goa.”
He added, “The BJP has its government at the Centre and the State too and as a result of that they are in a better position to come with a comprehensive solution by passing an ordinance thus resuming mining in the State.”
He further said that if mining does not resume at the earliest, it can be a major problem for the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2019.
“We are part of the coalition government but that does mean that we have to support each and every decision of the government. My only demand to the BJP leaders is that they solve the issue of mining in the State at the earliest but in case this does not work out, we will have to re-think of decision of supporting the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha 2019 elections,” he added
The minister also revealed that he favours an ordinance to re-start mining rather than going for auctioning, claiming that his party has made it clear to State BJP president Vinay Tendulkar on the current mining crisis.
“The ban imposed by the Supreme Court is an injustice on the people of Goa and State government should take a clear stand on it. I am speaking about ordinance because there is difference between mining issue of Goa and the rest of the country. We want that the locals should get justice. I have recently spoken to the BJP State President Vinay Tendulkar and told him that his party will be in trouble in the upcoming elections if they do not resolve the mining issue” Sardesai said
Sardesai was also unclear on his party fielding a candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha 2019 polls. “We will mostly not field our candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2019 polls but on the other side I am saying ‘mostly’ because we have made our stand clear that we will not support them if mining issue is not resolved,” he said.
