National convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has reiterated that his party would win 35 of the 40 seats in the Goa Assembly elections scheduled for early next year.

Addressing mining-affected people in Usgao in south Goa soon after his arrival on a three-day visit on Saturday, Mr. Kejriwal said the people affected by closure of mining in 2012 would be provided sufficient relief if the AAP came to power.

'Mining must be eco-friendly'

Mr. Kejriwal said mining in Goa should be environment-friendly, honest and green and he wanted to see Goa as the best model for mining.

Responding to a concern expressed by All Goa Mining Machinery Owners’ Association over the Supreme Court imposed cap of 20 million tonnes a year on iron ore mining, Mr. Kejriwal said the issue needs to be scientifically studied and a figure arrived at with which Supreme Court could be approached to revise the limit.

Making a commitment that those who were involved in illegal mining would not be spared, Mr. Kejriwal said the revenue lost in illegal mining would be recovered and the same would be used for the welfare of the mining dependents.

This is third visit of Mr. Kejriwal to poll-bound Goa.

His first visit was in May last when he addressed a huge rally in the city here wherein he announced that the party would contest the next Assembly elections in the State.

During his second visit in June, he held dialogue with fishermen, small hotel owners and youth and claimed that the party would win 35 of the 40 seats in Goa.