TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: A day after Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Narendra Modi, blamed Congress-led UPA government for stopping iron ore mining in Goa, the latter called Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar the kingpin in mining closure in the state.
“Congress did not stop mining nor did the Supreme Court. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was the kingpin who stopped mining in Goa, the decision was honoured by Congress and continued by the apex court,” Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president John Fernandes said addressing a press conference on Monday.
Fernandes said that the BJP-led government decision to suspend mining activities was wrong as it deprived state of revenue and locals of livelihood. The Congress leader pointed out that Parrikar as a leader of opposition and chief of public accounts committee raised the issue of illegal mining and soon after becoming the chief minister claimed that there is no illegal mining.
“The basic idea behind suspending mining operation was extortion,” Fernandes alleged adding that the mining industry players and the dependent on the business are been fooled by BJP government by making false assurances that the industry will commence soon. “The matter being subjudice, government cannot do anything,” he added.
BJP leaders including Parrikar during the Vijay Sankalp rally on Sunday had blamed Centre for stopping the mining industry to de-stabilize the economy of the state. Modi assured the crowd to resume mining at the earliest once he comes to power.
The Congress party also objected to the proposed auctioning of the mining leases terming it as a move to hand over the mining industry to corporates and multi nationals. “The hidden agenda behind this move is to deny mining leases to locals mine owners and hand them over to Adanis and Ambanis also depriving local workers of employment,” he stated.
Speaking on the dual citizenship issue, Fernandes said that Modi’s silence on the citizenship issue at the rally has sent clear signals that BJP cannot resolve the issue as it’s beyond the constitutional powers. “There is no constitutional solution to the dual citizenship controversy. The assurance given by Parrikar is nothing but a move to woo the voters for the Lok Sabha polls,” he stated. Chief Minister had recently assured that the issue of dual citizenship would be resolved once BJP forms its government at the Centre.
