PANAJI
The Congress on Saturday promised the Schedule Tribe community of Goa that it will provide political reservation and also settling all Forest Right Act claims after they form government at the Centre.
AICC Goa desk In-charge and former Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Thakare made the assurance on Saturday while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Panaji.
He alleged that the BJP has only used the Schedule Tribe community for political gain.
GPCC President Amit Patkar, Congress ST department chairman Ramkrishna Jalmi, GPCC General Secretary & ST leader Joseph Vaz were also present when Thakare said the BJP insulted President Droupadi Murmu by not inviting her for the inauguration of the new parliament building.
“Even while conferring Bharat Ratna to L K Advaniji, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained seated, while the President was standing. Modi failed to respect them both,” Thakare said.
He said, the BJP government failed to give justice to the ST community and accused the ruling party of pursuing an agenda which is anti STs.
“BJP used the ST community for political gain but never fulfilled their demands of political reservation among others. We will give priority to this issue and resolve it,” Thakare said.
He also went on to add that ST community leaders should get the opportunity to become the Chief Minister of Goa. “We are supporting it,” he added.
“After we form the government at the Centre and in Goa we will resolve issues of the ST community. We will see that funds allocated in the budget are used for their welfare,” Thakare added.
Patkar in brief comments during the press conference said: “BJP has used ST Samaj for politics and neglected their issues. Last two years they have been agitating to get reservations and we have supported them.” “We will establish a National mission for the Forest Right Act. Settlement of all pending FRA claims will be done within one year and rejected claims will be settled within six months,” Patkar said, adding that 9,500 cases are pending in Goa.
Cong wants EC to probe into misuse of govt machinery
MARGAO: The Congress has demanded that the Election Commission inquire into the misuse of government machinery and resources for the election campaign of BJP candidates.
Speaking on the matter, Margao Congress leader Savio Coutinho stated that material printed by the Department of Information and Publicity was being distributed by the workers of BJP candidates which was illegal and needs urgent attention of the election authorities.
Displaying a booklet printed by the DIP, Coutinho questioned how such misuse of funds from the public exchequer could be used for election campaign.
