Congress "sabotaging" attempts to resume mining in Goa: BJP

The BJP in Goa Friday accused the opposition Congress of "sabotaging" attempts to resume iron ore mining operations in the state by stalling Parliament, where the issue needs to be discussed.

Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said the vexed issue of iron ore mining resumption in the coastal state could be resolved only if Parliament is allowed to function.

Tendulkar, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, urged Goa Congress leaders to impress upon their national leadership to allow Parliament to function smoothly.

"Congress has been disrupting Parliament regularly. I appeal to Goa leaders of Congress to appeal their national counterparts to let Parliament run without disruption so that the issue of mining can be taken up and resolved," he said.

The mining operations, a key source of revenue to the government, came to a standstill eight months due to a Supreme Court order which quashed 88 mining leases.

The BJP-led government in Goa has requested the Centre to amend the existing mining laws during the ongoing session of Parliament so that leases get extended.

Tendulkar said he wanted to raisethe issue in the Rajya Sabha on December 13 during Zero Hour and also put a question the next day.

"But Congress did not allow Parliament to function. Our attempt to resolve the mining issue is being sabotaged by Congress," he said.

"We can solve the issue through Parliament. Let Congress allow Parliament to function, then we will solve the issue," the BJP leader said.

The Goa Mining People's Front, an umbrella group of mining dependents - whose livelihood has been affected - had recently staged a three-day protests in New Delhi demanding resumption of mining activities.