People hit by Goa mining ban blame AAP for plight

They allege that falsehood propagated by Prashant Bhushan was costing them dear

A group of mining stakeholders today partially blamed AAP for the plight of those affected by closure of iron ore extraction activity in Goa, alleging that falsehood propagated by its leader Prashant Bhushan was costing them dear.

The group has also decided to hold a march in the state on February 28 against the mining closure. "AAP leader Prashant Bhushan projected wrong facts before the Supreme Court related to the mining industry in the state," Goa Mining People's Front (GMPF) leader Christopher Fonseca alleged before mediapersons here.

"Bhushan argued that only 7,000 people are affected due to mining closure while actually more than one lakh are directly suffering," Fonseca said.

Bhushan legally represents NGO Goa Foundation, which had petitioned in the Supreme Court against illegal mining in the state.

None of the political parties, including Congress and BJP, are willing to solve the impasse created due to mining closure since September 2012, Fonseca regretted.

GMPF, a group of mining stakeholders, has decided to hold a day-long 'padyatra' in the mining belt on February 28, starting from Usgao, about 50 kms from here.

"We have no more patience. The 17-month mining ban has devastated the livelihood of thousands of mining dependent people, rendering tens of thousands jobless and unemployed," GMPF convenor Suhas Naik said.

"Goa government and central government have miserably failed to convince the Supreme Court to end the ongoing mining crisis," he said.

The committee formed by the apex court has been extending deadlines to submit its report, delaying the solution to the current deadlock, he alleged.