Panaji: After trying out in Goa, the mining dependents are now pinning their hopes on Delhi. Around one thousand, mining dependents have begun travel to the national capital, bearing the cold winters.
The first batch of the mining dependents has already left for Delhi on Wednesday morning by a train, while the rest of the batches will move now onwards.
Puti Gaonkar, who is heading the Mining Dependents, claims this as the ultimate blow to the Central government to get the things corrected on the mining front. The aim is to impress BJP-led Centre to move an Amendment to Mining Act, so that the Iron Ore extraction and export industry in Goa restarts.
The agitation would be spread over four days, to begin with on December 10 at Ram Leela Maidan, the mining dependents will gather, and will stay aput there till next day, December 11.
On December 12, they will shift to Jantar Mantar where for next two days the protests will continue before returning on December 15 to Goa.
While this is the first ever Goa specific agitation that is happening in the National Capital, the mining dependents will have to bear the winter chills of the national capital.
It would be one of the challenge for them after shifting from the State with 31 degree Celsius climate to the chills of 12 degree Celsius.
The weather forecast has predicted that on December 10, the climate will drop down to 12 degree in night while during the day it would be around 23 degree.
The similar climate will prevail till December 13, when finally, the protestors are expected to wind up their agitation from the national capital.
The mining dependents have been getting support from different political parties. Congress, GFP, MGP, NCP, AAP, Shiv Sena, Goa Suraksha Manch have already confirmed that their top leaders will meet the dependents at Delhi. BJP too has been invited, but it is not clear whether they would be arriving at the protest site.
Gaonkar claimed that the leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Prafulla Patel, Sanjay Raut will pay the visit, while several ministers from Goa including GFP’s Vijai Sardesai will be flying to Delhi to meet them.
MGP President Dipak Dhavalikar has also said that he would be there in Delhi to participate in the protest.
For almost four days, the attention of Goa is likely to be shifted to Delhi. Incidently, December 13 is the birthday of CM Manohar Parrikar.
The analysts claim that it is unlikely that the union government will move any amendment in the upcoming Parliament Session for the mining law. The file has been moving at snail’s pace, and it is far from reaching to the PM Narendra Modi who will place it in Union Cabinet.
In such situation, Goa Mining People’s Front has already said that back home, after December 15, the agitation might turn violent.
“We have been protesting peacefully but our patience is running out. Now it is the time to sit at the doorsteps of BJP MLAs and ask them to pay for the month wages of mining dependents,” Gaonkar had said addressing the crowd on Tuesday after meeting Governor Mridula Sinha.
The resumption of mining is a major challenge that BJP is facing in the State. If they fail to resume mining, then they will have to face wrath of the people. The time is running out for the saffron party as they are staring at the upcoming Parliamentary election.
