'Natarajan-Gandhi tussle delayed mining resumption in Goa'

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar Friday said the Jayanthi Natarajan-Rahul Gandhi tussle could have resulted in the prolonged delay in resolving the crisis in Goa's iron ore mining sector.

His remark came after former union minister Natarajan Friday blamed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for the slack performance of her environment ministry.

The Congress in Goa has dismissed the charge made by Parsekar, describing the chief minister as too small a fry to comment on national goings on.

Reacting to comments of the former union minister for environment and forests blaming Gandhi's directives for slow decision making in her ministry, Parsekar said: "I do not know what transpired between Jayanthi Natarajan and tthe so-called leader of Congress, Gandhi. So, I cannot comment on it, but since she has given this reaction, there seems to be substance therein. There is no smoke without fire."

When asked whether the tussle between Gandhi and Natarajan could have eventually led to the delay in resolving Goa's mining sector crisis, he said that "definitely there has been delay".

In a statement issued here, the Congress said instead of making idle comments, the BJP government in Goa should focus its energies more on restarting mining in Goa.

"Parsekar rather should try to concentrate on really re-starting mining which has led to the collapse of the state economy. We will not tolerate nonsense statement against our leader Rahul Gandhi. Parsekar should first understand that he is a small fry in national politics before making such statements on our leader," Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said.

Goa's mining has been non-operational for more than two years because of three successive actions, namely a temporary suspension of mining permission by the state government, a revocation of green clearances by the environment and forest ministry and then a ban by the Supreme Court following the revelation of a Rs.35,000 crore illegal mining scam.

The ban was been lifted last year, but mining has not yet resumed due to logistical issues yet.