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Journalism of Courage
With the NCP and some other coalition partners taking strident postures against the Digambar Kamat government on the issue of law and order situation and other problems of governance,state Congress leadership has sent a set of official documents to party president Sonia Gandhi to validate their claims that the governments drive against illegal mining in Goa was behind political instability in the state.
As per the documents,there was illegal mining to the tune of at least 10.39 million tonnes in the past five years,it was reliably learnt. From 2003-04 to 2007-08,total production of iron ore,manganese and bauxite in Goa amounted to 27.28 million tonnes,while official export figures stood at 39.67 million tonnes.
This comes amidst a tug-of-war between the Congress and its coalition partner NCP in the state. Three-year-old Digambar Kamat government continued to be on a shaky ground as the NCP insisted on a Cabinet reshuffle to ensure smooth functioning of the government. The demand came at the Congress-NCP Coordination Committee meeting at Union Minister and senior NCP leader Praful Patels residence here on Wednesday.
NCP sources here said there was a much larger issue of the functioning of the government as was evident from deteriorating law and order situation. A Cabinet reshuffle was required to put this on track,they said. Congress sources,however,attributed rebellion against Kamat government to its drive against illegal mining and the proposed new Regional Plan.
The NCPs demand for Cabinet reshuffle will be conveyed to the Congress president after her return from Rae Bareli on Thursday,said Congress sources.
