Mining ban issue to hit BJP's poll chances, say local outfits

Organisations fighting for the resumption of mining in Goa have claimed that suspension of iron ore extraction activities in the state will impact the ruling BJP's chances in the Lok Sabha polls.

The coastal state has two Lok Sabha seats, North Goa and South Goa, both of which have several talukas where distraught mining dependents are in sizable numbers, these outfits have pointed out.

Both the seats are currently held by the BJP.

The mining operations, a key source of revenue to the government, came to a standstill in March last year following a Supreme Court order which quashed 88 mining leases.

Some outfits, like the Goa Mining People's Front, are miffed with the BJP-led Goa and central governments over the mining operations still lying suspended in the state.

GMPF representatives earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amnit Shah and Union Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, seeking their help to amend the existing mining laws so that leases could get extended.

GMPF chief Puti Gaonkar said, "We will not tell people whom to vote for but we have made it clear that we will ask people to vote against the BJP."
Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said, "Our party has always been with the mining dependents and will never let them down. These people have realised that the BJP has been lying on the issue."