Don't mix up mining with Special Status: GMPF
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 23 May 2013 21:42 IST
Adv Suhas Naik addressing the media
The Goa Mining People’s Front has blamed Goa government for mixing up issue of mining with special status.
Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has sought Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s appointment next week to discuss two crucial issues – mining compensation and special status for Goa.
He plans to lead the all-party delegation to the national capital, as decided in the Assembly session.
“Why is Parrikar mixing up issues of mining with special status? It will dilute the immediate cause of mining”, feels Christopher Fonseca, the GMPF leader.
Adv Suhas Naik, the GMPF convenor, has expressed satisfaction over Parrikar meeting their request to meet the prime minister as well as other union ministers.
“We met Parrikar twice – on 20 and 21 May – to press for our demands”, informs Naik.
However, Fonseca feels that the all-party delegation led by the chief minister should take up these issues separately.
“You require amendment to the Constitution in the Parliament for the special status; one prime minister cannot do it. But the PM can definitely decide about the financial package for the mine-affected people immediately”, he observes.
He also blamed the chief minister for causing delay in making such an important demand when even Goa governor met the PM twice and apprised him about the situation in Goa.
Fonseca even alleged that Parrikar is not aware of the hardships the mining-affected people are going through.
He however clarified that the GMPF is fully backing the demand for special status for Goa.
