PANJIM: Days before the first Goa centric protest takes place in the national capital, Goa Mining People’s Front (GMPF) said that Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu assured them that he would look into the possibility of an all-party and stakeholders’ meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The mining affected people are scheduled to hold a three-day protest in Delhi next week at Jantar Mantar. The protestors are seeking an amendment to mining acts for resumption of the stalled activity. Prabhu, who was in Goa for the Global Venture Summit, met the leaders of the GMPF.
GMPF chief Puti Gaonkar informed Herald that the minister was quite positive on their demands. “The minister assured us that he would check the possibility of leading a delegation of all parties from Goa and stakeholders of the mining industry to the Prime Minister,” Gaonkar said, adding, “The delegation would discuss the issue of amending mining laws for resumption of the mining activity.”
Mining dependents will hold a protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on December 11 and 12 and at Jantar Mantar on December 13.
Gaonkar, who was a part of a delegation that met Prabhu, said the minister was sympathetic towards the demands of the people affected by the closure of mining operations. “Prabhu said he is aware about the problems being faced by the people affected by closure of the industry. We expect Prabhu to get us an audience with the PM so that we can explain to him the actual situation and the way forward,” he said.
BJP leaders in Goa, including State unit president Vinay Tendulkar, had said that an amendment to the mining laws would be moved during upcoming winter session of Parliament.
