Goa Mining: Many Leaders to Support GMPF’s 3-Day Delhi Protest

Goa Politicians are expected to visit New Delhi to support mining dependents for a three-day protest from 11 Dec.

An iron plant at Navelim in Goa.

(Photo: iStock)

Several ministers and politicians from Goa are expected to visit New Delhi to offer support to mining dependents who are scheduled to begin a three-day protest on Tuesday, 11 December, to press for the resumption of mining in the state.

Mining in Goa came to a standstill in March this year, after the Supreme Court quashed 88 leases and banned the extraction of fresh ore.

The Goa Mining People's Front, an umbrella body of mining dependents, is scheduled to hold a protest between 11-13 December in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan and Jantar Mantar.

GMPF president Puti Gaonkar on Monday, 10 December, said all three state ministers of the Goa Forward Party, comprising Vijai Sardesai (Agriculture), Vinod Palyekar (Fisheries) and Jayesh Salgaoncar (Housing), would be visiting agitators on Tuesday afternoon.

He also said that Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, is expected to visit the protesters on 13 December, in the afternoon.

Gaonkar also said that All India Congress Committee secretary A Chella Kumar, Goa Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Aam Aadmi Party Goa convener Elvis Gomes would meeting with the protesters.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leaders led by its president Dipak Dhavalikar would be camping in Delhi for three days, Gaonkar said.

BJP MPs Shripad Naik (Union AYUSH Minister), Narendra Sawaikar and Vinay Tendulkar have also said they will meet with protesters in Delhi, Gaonkar said.