Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst chants of Modi, Modi in a packed Dr Shamaprasad Mukherjee stadium, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was sympathetic to the issues of the mining dependents and assured to work in tandem with the State government to find a solution to the issue.
Addressing a gathering of nearly 30,000 that was seated inside and outside the stadium, Modi said he was aware of the mining crisis in Goa. “Some time back I had called the mining dependents to Delhi along with our two MPs and held discussions on the issue at length,” he said.
However, Modi said, there are some old issues which are causing hindrances in solving the mining imbroglio. “There are old laws, there is burden of corruption of old government and as such the mining issue is entangled in various such problems,” he said.
He said he tried to understand the issues as people’s livelihood is at stake. “Be it with legal way or by taking your issues to the Supreme Court, the Delhi government will always be with people of Goa and the State government on the issue that much I can assure you,” the prime minister said.
He added, “I also assure that I will not leave any stone unturned to solve the mining issue. Definitely we will make all efforts to remove the hindrances in re-starting mining in Goa.”
The announcement assumes significance as mining dependents have declared they would work against the BJP candidates in both constituencies in the Lok Sabha and Assembly by-polls.
The prime minister further said that his government is making efforts to bring about a change in the lives of fishermen, who are part of the blue revolution. “We have made various efforts for fishermen. We have already announced a new department and new ministry in the budget,” he said.
He said his government has decided to issue fisherman credit card in line with the kisan credit card. “The fishermen will get all those facilities, which a farmer gets on kisan credit card,” he said.
Besides, he said, his government is trying to make the lives of fishermen risk free. “The government will give assistance for modernisation of the vessels besides we will also provide them a device with satellite support which would give information on weather and so also gives indication where there is a good catch,” he said.
