Blame game as ST reservation bill stalled in parl amid Oppn uproar

PANAJI
The issue of political reservation to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in the Goa Assembly has intensified political conflict between the ruling BJP and Congress, with both fiercely defending their stance after the crucial Bill pertaining to reservation failed to come up in the Lok Sabha following uproar by the INDIA bloc in the lower house of Parliament.

Wednesday, the third day of the Parliament monsoon session, saw the opposition disrupting the proceedings, as a result of which no business could be taken up, including the introduction of 'The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024'.

While terming it a shameful act, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant condemned the action, stating that it revealed the true character of the opposition, wherein they obstructed the introduction of a historic and long-awaited Bill.

On Thursday, speaking to media persons, Sawant said that Congress will have to be blamed if the government fails to grant political reservation to STs in the 2027 polls. “We are committed to seeing that STs get political reservation in the 2027 elections. But, if we are not able to, then the Congress should be held responsible,” he said.

Sawant said that the Bill, which was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha during the monsoon session in 2024, failed to come up for further introduction and consideration in the successive sessions as the opposition did not allow the proceedings. “This time too, they have done the same thing. It appears that Congress is not in favour of granting political reservation to ST,” he said.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the Bill holds immense importance for Goa and that its introduction was a crucial step toward ensuring that tribal communities receive their rightful share and voice in the democratic process.

However, the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao shot back at the CM, blaming BJP for using “tactics” to ensure that the Bill does not come up.

“Congress did not oppose the Bill, as the Bill was not tabled. There was a constitutional crisis in Bihar wherein over 59 lakh voters are deleted. Our MPs wanted a discussion on that,” he said, adding, “Do not put that they (Congress MPs) opposed it.”

“This is basically a BJP tactic to see that the Bill does not come up; hence, they are repeatedly listing the Bill for tabling when there is uproar in the House. The uproar has been going on for the past three days,” he added.

Alemao said that the Union government is free to table the Bill again and that the South Goa MP in Parliament will see that the party supports it. At present, the Goa Assembly has 40 seats with no reservation for STs.

According to the Bill, it is imperative to enact a law to provide for enabling provisions empowering the Election Commission to make amendments in the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, and readjust seats in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa for STs.

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'Get it done': Tribal leaders push BJP govt to pass bill

MARGAO: With the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Reservation Bill once again failing to come up for discussion in Parliament on Wednesday, tribal leaders have renewed calls for its urgent passage to ensure ST seat reservations are implemented for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.

While the BJP blamed Congress for stalling Parliamentary proceedings, ST leaders said the timing was coincidental. Adv John Fernandes, President of Mission Political Reservations for ST Communities, stated, “We do not believe that the opposition deliberately stalled Parliament because the ST Reservation Bill was scheduled for discussion. They were highlighting significant national issues. It’s just a strange coincidence that all this occurred on the same day the ST Bill was listed.”

He urged the BJP to reintroduce the Bill during the current session. “In the past, the BJP government has passed several Bills even amid opposition protests and disruptions. They could have done the same this time. We now look to the ruling government to bring the Bill back for discussion and ensure it is passed so that Goa’s ST communities benefit in the 2027 elections,” Fernandes said.

Echoing this, UTAA chief Prakash Velip said, “I have said this before and I’ll say it again—the BJP government will ensure the ST Reservation Bill is passed, so that tribal communities receive the benefits in time.”

He added that the reservation process could be completed in three months if passed now.