MGP threatens to withdraw from BJP-led government over mining issue

PONDA: Stepping up pressure on the state government over the mining issue, the MGP, an ally in the BJP-led Goa government, on Wednesday threatened to withdraw support if the issue is not resolved by December 15.
“We demand that an all-party delegation be taken to meet the Prime Minister for early resumption of mining. We will wait till December 15. If the BJP fails to resolve the issue by then, we will think of other alternatives, even withdrawing support to the state government,” said MGP president Pandurang Dhavalikar to agitating mining dependents in Ponda.With the government failing to come up with a solution, around 800 mining dependents marched to the office of the MGP president and also the residence of Rajya Sabha MP and state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar, demanding early resumption of mining in the state.
Government will find solution in 15 days: BJP chief
Sources said that people in the mining belt are growing restless as they have no alternative sources of livelihood. Considering this, the state BJP has been urging the central government to amend the law to allow resumption of mining.
MGP is the second alliance partner after GFP to demand early resumption of mining in the state.
The morcha began from Ponda Tisk and went by the Ponda municipal council building and old bus stand to Tendulkar’s Khadapabandh-Ponda residence and then to Dhavalikar’s office, which is in the same ward of Ponda town.
Earlier, chief of Goa Mining People’s Front, Puti Gaonkar, briefed protesters about the purpose and reason behind the morcha.
“The government in March had promised to solve the issue in no time, but even after six months, there is no solution in view,” he told the mining dependents.
Tendulkar said that his government would find an amicable solution to the issue within 15 days.
“A situation that sees people depending on mining having to starve will not come. The government will come up with a solution within 15 days,” he said.