PANAJI (GOA)

It was March 19th morning, when nearly 5000 people from the mining belts entered the capital city – Panaji and held the entire city, people and the State administration to ransom for nearly five hours, blocking all entry and exit roads to the city demanding immediate resumption of iron ore mining activities, which are shut since March 16 following Supreme Court order.
As the protesters – unfortunately backed by MLAs, Mining giants – who paid no heed to Government’s assurances, turned violent forcing police to lathi charge to clear off the national highway, which was blocked since 11.00 am on that morning.
School students, office goers, senior citizens, tourists, ambulances (with patients), fell victims to the traffic blockade imposed by the arrogant, destructive pro-mining protesters, who wanted to gain sympathy of being sufferers due to mining closer. But the one, who closely witnessed this five-hour long deadly drama, will certainly not have any mercy for these protesters who were later seen bleeding and pleading.
The protesters lured abusive and flirty languages at the commoners, irrespective of the gender and age, who attempted to convince them not to resort to violence.
“I and my wife Anita had travelled all the way from Verna to visit my brother-in-law, who was admitted in Campal clinic in the city. He was operated on Sunday and we were stuck in traffic since 11.30 am. I went to talk to them to allow my bike to go but they used dirty words for my wife, mother etc., and they took away my bike keys too,” Kedar Pilankar, narrated his story to TNV, who was on the spot.
Nearly thousand-odd students were stuck in traffic, hungry, tired, helpless waiting for the situation to normalize. “There are 50 students in my bus. They are between the age group of 10-15 years. After dropping them to school in the morning, I had parked my bus at the school complex only because I was aware about this protest. Now, we were terribly stuck. I felt really bad for these kids,” Jaganath Punaji, a bus driver said as the kids looked at me with some hope.
Article 19 of the Indian Constitution protects freedom of speech, allowing citizens, for one, the right “to assemble peaceably and without arms.” This includes the right to form associations, hold meetings, and come out in processions. The constitutional right to assembly is, however, subjected to certain regulations contained in a number of laws, such as the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code, and the Police Act of 1861.
The Supreme Court of India while giving an interpretation of this above Article of the Constitution said that -: The freedom of assembly can be exercised only on the public land. Additionally, restrictions imposed under Article 19(3) would cover restrictions to maintain the public order, including the maintenance of traffic in the area concerned. But the restrictions can’t attain the status of an absolute prohibition at least in the normal times.
However, the very same interpretation was violated by the protesters who resorted to unlawful protest. The State Administration including police, district magistrate – who were under tremendous pressure from their BOSSES, failed miserably to control the law and order situation.
There is no question that the call to strike peacefully, a traditional tool of resistance during political unrest was ignored by the protestors. The mining dependents anger spilled into the streets near Kranti circle. The protestors had gathered there with a sole demand that mining has to be resumed, as it has been the only livelihood for them for decades now.
But what did they get out of it??? Wounds…Blame…. Shame…. Sympathy…. Several were seriously injured while criminal offences have been registered against 11, who are out on bail. Moreover, the mining operations continue to be shut.
There is no doubt that the pro-mining agitators were fighting for their survival. However, one cannot ignore the very fact that the ban imposed on iron ore mining activities is by the Supreme Court and not by the State government.
Supreme Court via order dated February 7 quashed second renewals granted to 88 mining leases, while directing them to stop operations after March 15. The State government adhering to the directions thus suspended mining operations.
“It is not a State created problem. The people have to understand that. We admit that there has been delay due to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s illness. But we have assured that we are filing a review petition in the next eight days. We will ensure that mining dependents get some relief,” Cabinet Advisory Committee member Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said.
Violent protests are not the solution for such contentious problem. A collective effort from the Centre, State and the people is required to fight this out in the court of law.