‘Govt bolting stable after horse is out’

Bardhan for Pawar as PM, nationalisation of mining sector

BY A GT REPORTER

PANJIM: Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A B Bardhan yesterday stated that it would nationalise the mining industry of Goa if the Third Front were voted to power at the Centre, so as to stop overexploitation of iron ore without any value-addition.
Bardhan who was in Goa to campaign for CPI candidates contesting both the Lok Sabha seats, told reporters that the mining industry, which was mostly in the hands of private firms, was going on unregulated, unchecked and in an irresponsible manner. He said that the Conservation of Mineral Land Act had become defunct.
Bardhan said mining rather than proving to be a boon had become a source of unexploited resources. The miners were exploiting ore without any value-added to the state.
“The mines should not be in the private hands. We will oppose it as it is overexploiting our resources without any value-addition,” Bardhan said.
He also brught the tourism industry under the hammer in Goa. He stated that it had spoiled Goa by the five-star culture while, some top politicians had become major players in real estate and have sold and resold Goa and were now talking of protecting Goa's land from being sold to foreginers. "It is like bolting the stable after the horses have left," he remarked.
The CPI general secretary said that lack of political stability was another feature of Goa and strongly advocated that Goa needs employment-oriented and eco-friendly industries.
Bardhan hoped that this time the people of Goa would repose their faith in the CPI candidates rather then the Congress or BJP candidates who were elected in turns by Goans. He said that CPI election campaign focused on special problems concerning Goa.
Asked whether the Left would again support Congress after post-election, Bardhan ruled out the possibility of Left helping the Congress to form the next government.
To a question, he said that NCP president Sharad Pawar was a good Prime Ministerial candidate. But after the Lok Sabha election results are declared, the Third Front would come together and calculate the possibility of forming the new government and choose its leader.
He said, the Left parties would adopt a path of development by which domestic market is built-up and infrastructure strengthened.
Both CPI candidates Christopher Fonseca (North Goa) and Raju Mangueshkar (South Goa), secretary Suhas Naik, CPI (M) state president Thalman
Pereira and general secretary S S Naik were also present.