Date: July 16, 2014
GSRP alleges Parrikar is Mine Owners 'Puppet on Strings'
In a scathing attack on Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his repeated
U-Turns on the Goa Illegal Mining Scam, Goa Su-Raj Party (GSRP) alleged that
the Chief Minister is nothing but a 'puppet on strings' of the powerful mine
owners in Goa.
Speaking on the issue, Floriano Lobo, General Secretary, GSRP stated,
"Parrikar is a liar and has been fooling the people of Goa on the issue of
the Rs 35000 crore illegal mining scam as exposed in the Shah Commission
Report. First it was irregular mining instead of illegal mining; now it
appears that he plans to absolve all mining companies from the illegal
mining scam by making ridiculous statements such as " Those who mined the
minerals during 2007-2012 didn't know that it was illegal to do so. It was
decided that it is illegal in the year 2014 (with reference to the recent
Supreme Court judgement on illegal mining scam)"
First it was Digambar Kamat, now its Parrikar who is nothing but a puppet of
the mine owners.
In a recent media briefing Parrikar stated that the new Goa State Mining
Policy will regularise iron-ore mined between 2007-2012, which Supreme Court
termed as 'Illegal' mining. GSRP Secretary & President (Youth Affairs),
expressed, "I challenge Parrikar to prosecute the companies such as
Fomentos, Sesa Goa, Chowghule and others from the powerful mining lobby; or
prosecute politicians such as former Chief Minister & Mines Minister
Digambar Kamat and others mentioned in the Shah Commission Report. But, I
know Parrikar cannot accept the challenge because it is not his will to
prosecute the big sharks in the illegal mining scam, just small fishes."
Rodrigues further added, "Forming state-owned corporation for mining is an
idea Parrikar will never put into action and will find excuses to implement
it because, being a puppet of the mining companies, he has to ensure that
the benefits go to the mining companies and not the people of Goa. GSRP in
its party manifesto has clearly advocated the need to run mining operations
in a state-owned corporation so that every Goan gains from the revenue
earned through this natural resource and not just a few mining families. "
Parrikar termed the setting-up of a corporation for mining as a logistical
nightmare. Rodrigues slamed Parrikar saying, "For an IITian Chief Minister,
he appears to forget that all business are nightmares if they do not get
their operations systems in place. Therefore, making such a lame excuses,
is a shame."
Sd/-
Savio Rodrigues
Secretary & President (Youth Affairs)
Goa Su-Raj Party
Mob: +919764447313
