Export iron ore to China: BJP

Iron ore, a national resource, should be exported to China despite recurring incursions by Beijing into Indian territory, the Goa BJP said Friday.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Narendra Savoikar said the party was rooting for quick vacation of a Supreme Court-enforced ban on iron ore mining in the state, and added that the party would spare no effort to convince the apex court on the need for iron ore mining to resume in Goa.

"The ban has affected the state's economy. We will pray before the court to lift the ban," he said.

"We have no issue with ore exports to China. Incursions have nothing to do with trade," Savoikar said when asked if Chinese incursions into Indian territory in the Ladakh region would deter sale of iron ore.

Before the ban on iron ore mining imposed by the Supreme Court in October last year, China was the destination for well over 60 per cent of the 50 million tonne-odd iron ore extracted from Goa mines.