'Most of illegal mining leases in Goa run by Congress leaders'

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today alleged a majority of mining leases termed "illegal" by Justice M B Shah Commission in its probe were being operated by Congress leaders.

"Whatever mines mentioned in the Shah Commission report as illegal are operated by some or the other Congress leader," Parrikar told reporters here.

On Congress' demand for a CBI inquiry into illegal mining in the state, the chief minister said "all Congress leaders should come together and tell me what kind of inquiry they want".

"Congress spokesman says CBI should inquire, leader of the opposition says the Supreme Court should monitor the inquiry while one of their leaders demands that former chief minister Digambar Kamat should be sent to Tihar jail (for being involved in illegal mining)," he said.

Seeking to allay fears that the mining industry in Goa would be doomed following indictment of many players by the Shah Commission, Parrikar said "have I ever said that the mines would be stopped? Let me complete the procedures".

"Till we start a criminal inquiry based on Shah Commission's report, I can't answer (the questions related to the mining)," he added.

Parrikar said that in case of delay in commencement of mining season to a certain time, the government will step in to give relief to the people affected due to stopping of the activity.

As the biggest exporter of iron ore in the country, Goa had exported 43 million metric tonne of iron ore last fiscal.