Will not allow Goa to become coal hub: Rahul

NT NETWORK

Panaji

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday assured the people of Goa that if voted to power in 2022, Congress party will restart mining activities in the state in a “legal way”.

Addressing Congress workers’ convention ‘Jagor’ at the Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee indoor stadium at Taleigao Plateau, Gandhi said Congress will not allow Goa to become a coal hub and also promised not to allow the three linear projects in the state.

“Mining-affected people told me that lakhs of people have suffered due to mining closure and they said the mines will go to the people Delhi wants. The mines will go to the same person,” Gandhi said without naming or referring to anybody. “I have assured them (mining affected) that in a legal way we will try to restart mining in Goa,” he said.

Mentioning about his interaction with fishermen in South Goa, Gandhi said the fishermen told him that the railway line is being doubled, coal import through the port has increased and Goa is being converted into a coal hub.

“No matter what happens, we will not allow a beautiful place like Goa to become a coal import hub. And the three linear projects will also not be allowed and please remember these words,” the Congress leader said.   “Airport is for Adani, port is for Adani and Goa’s mining is also for Adani. What is happening for you?” Gandhi quipped.

He said that the party’s aim will be to provide employment “sustainably” by making Goa an education hub and by creating a medical tourism hub in the state. Gandhi said the Congress party will focus on employment, healthcare, education and tourism and

take the state on the path of progress by taking everyone along from every section of the society.

He assured that if Congress is voted to power, then the party will implement a concept similar to ‘NYAY’, the minimum income guarantee programme that the party had first proposed in its manifesto for the 2019 parliamentary polls. Nyay-Nyuntam Ayay Yojana guaranteed a cash transfer of Rs 72,000 a year to families.

Respecting the sentiments of the party workers, Gandhi said the defectors will not be readmitted into the party. “Those who have betrayed the Congress party and the people will not be given any place by us,” he said.

Gandhi said the 2022 Goa Assembly election battle is not just a political battle but is also a battle of ideology and a battle of imagination of Goa and added that Congress is a political party that represents united and prosperous Goa.

“The culture of Goa and the way of life of Goa is also the culture of India and the way of life of India. We are not just fighting an election here, we are fighting a fight about defining what Goa is going to become, how Goa is going to treat itself and how Goa is going to treat the rest of the world. And I want Goa to show the rest of India that Goa can stand together, maintain and protect its wonderful culture, maintain and protect its wonderful environment and still move forward with vigour and dynamism,” Gandhi said.  

Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is working only for five-six big and rich industrialists, the Congress MP claimed that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been designed to attack the unorganised sector and small and medium businesses, and the three farm laws are designed to crush the farmers of this country.

Gandhi came down heavily on the mainstream media alleging that the media is a friend of the government in Delhi and it portrays a distorted picture of this country by ignoring the truth and reality. “The media doesn’t raise the issues of farmers, small and medium business people and labourers, so we have a tragedy unfolding in our country,” he said.

However, anticipating that this statement made by Gandhi could lead to a controversy and upset the local journalists, the local senior Congress leaders, through a chit, sent their message requesting Gandhi to correct his statement while he continued to address the party workers.

“Well, they have just given me a piece of paper which says that the media in Goa is more balanced than the national media. So that is heartening and makes me happy that you are doing the job that you are supposed to do. We don’t expect unfairness from you, we expect fairness from you. And if you are being fair, we are proud of you because you are doing your duty and your job,” Gandhi said, clarifying his earlier statement.

Earlier in the day, the Gawada Kunbi Velip and Dhangar Federation members met Gandhi and demanded five-seat representation to the ST community when party tickets are distributed for the forthcoming assembly election.

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