PONDA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to face a black flag demonstration when he comes to inaugurate the Mandovi Bridge on January 12.
Fed up with all the tall promises given by the chief minister, ministers and MLAs, the mining dependents are bent on staging the protest since the PM has not moved an inch to find a solution to the eight-month long agitation of the dependents. This, despite a three-day sit-in by them at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
This decision was taken at a meeting held by the dependents at Ponda on Thursday.
The meeting also decided that if no solution is reached before January 12, then the dependents will also hold a rasta roko.
The vowed not to relent like they did for the opening of the Khandepar Bridge after heeding to the request of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
“Union Minister Nitin Gadkari did not attend the inauguration of the Khandepar Bridge because he was afraid of an agitation by the mining affected dependents,” said a speaker at the meeting.
GMPF leader Puti Gaonkar said the date of the bandh will be decided after consulting the agitating mining dependents, who have lost their livelihood due to the Supreme Court’s order to halt mining operations in Goa.
The mining dependents said, “This is the last opportunity for the ruling governments at State and Centre to solve the issue since the Lok Sabha elections are due next year.”
They also threatened to launch Parivartan Yatra to create awareness on the government’s failure to solve the imbroglio.
The mining dependents said, “Let the world know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being shown black flags for ignoring our problems despite our three-day sit-in protest in Delhi,” said another speaker.
Briefing on the agitation, GMPF leader Puti Gaonkar said that if the PM fails to listen to their grievances, the dependents will declare the day of the Goa bandh on January 12.
For the success of the protest and to plan the Goa Bandh, a Coordination Committee was formed on Thursday which included Puti Gaonkar, Subash Velingkar, Shiv Sena leader Jeetesh Kamath, Balaji Gawas among others.
Subash Velingkar said not only BJP but also its ruling alliance MGP and Goa Forward Party failed to solve the issue. Shiv Sena leader Jeetesh Kamath said, “Since we are launching the agitation against the ruling government all the parties in Opposition should support the mining dependents.”
“If mining dependents do not get appointment with the PM then Shiv Sena leader in Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray is capable of getting it for mining dependents,” said Jeetesh. The Congress members present at the meeting also assured to support the agitation, it was announced.
