Rahul Gandhi woos voters in Goa’s mining sector with a promise to restart stalled industry

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said iron ore mining will resume in Goa after his party comes to power in the state after the assembly polls. He was addressing a public meeting in the Kurchoram constituency of South Goa district, which is a part of the mining area. Campaigning ahead of the February 14 election, Gandhi said the Congress would restart the mining industry as soon as the party formed the government. He questioned the seriousness of the ruling BJP’s assurance of resuming mining within six months.

BJP leaders say they will resume mining. Then why didn’t he do it in the last five years? He asked. Gandhi also said that all projects detrimental to the interests of the coastal state would be scrapped, including three that would affect the Molem Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Congress leader also blamed the BJP for “massive unemployment” in the state, claiming that the central government’s policies affected small and medium industries, leading to the situation. Everyone should get justice. So we have decided to resume mining to generate employment and bring justice to the people who depend on mining for livelihood.