Mining rally supported by all parties demands ordinance, BJP says PM favours it

The unanimously demand - that an ordinance be passed by the Centre changing the lease period of 50 years up to 2037.

The Opposition Congress has supported the demand. BJP has also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has favourer it. 

The huge rally of over 5000 mining workers and dependents was attended by top leaders of the Congress as well as representatives of the BJP, MGP, Goa Forward as well as NCP and Shiv Sena.

Everybody was unanimous that ordinance be passed to amend the MMDR Act.

The existing act says mining leases of 50 years were granted in 1950 and expired in 2010.

But since the old Portuguese concessions were abolished and converted into leases in 1987, the demand is to take that year as the base with an amendment.

Meanwhile, the Congress has asked whether Goa and its problems were not important for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was speaking at the lack of success of the delegation to meet the Prime Minster in the Capital.

The Congress also wanted to know whether Union Minister Shripad Naik was not bothered about the state as he was in Goa when the delegation went to New Delhi. 

Government ally and Minister Vijai Sardessai highlighted the importance of mining and their support for the restart of mining.

He said tha the had communicated to the BJP leadership that mining should start as soon as possible and an ordinance should be brought in order to start mining in the state.