Team Herald
PANJIM: Slamming his own party, which is governing at the State and Centre, BJP MLA and Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said he is ready to resign as mark of protest in support of the mining dependents, who are demanding resumption of iron ore activities in the State.
Addressing the Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) agitation at Azad Maidan on Friday, Lobo, expressed his complete displeasure over the manner in which the State and Centre have handled the mining issue, and said, “Our sitting MPs, Shripad Naik and Narendra Sawaikar, have no right to fill the form for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. We cannot blame anybody as in both the places our party is ruling. We cannot blame Congress or anyone else. It is BJP government who is to be blamed.”
The Calangute MLA added, “I am with the people. It pains me to see them crying and we are not able to do anything for them. I am ready to resign as mark of protest if people want me to do so.”
Lobo said that it is painful that despite BJP ruling both at the State and Centre, they are not able to solve the mining issue. “We MLAs and MPs are elected to protect people and their livelihood and ensure safe future to our voters. If we can’t do this, then we have no right,” he stated.
“If our MPs can’t solve mining issue, than why does Goa need to be represented in Delhi? If you cannot solve the problem, than we don’t want you…why are you needed?” he asked.
“What was the mistake of the people? That they elected us with a thumping majority at the Centre. They were looking at us for good governance, stable government, and a government that will work for the people and protect their livelihood,” the deputy speaker stated.
Further lashing out at MPs, who were present at the agitation, Lobo said, “As a sincere worker of BJP for last 11 years, I say these people have no right to fill the form again. People of Goa will show you, your place. They will show you soon.”
He further slammed the BJP leaders stating ‘their personal political works by meeting Amit Shah are done much faster than any other issue”.
Lobo, whose words were highly appreciated by the mining dependents, said that the voice for resumption of mining needs to reach to AIIMS in Delhi, where Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is currently admitted.
