PANAJI
Claiming to have been betrayed by the BJP, the Scheduled Tribes (ST) leaders on Saturday announced their support to the INDIA bloc candidates in both the constituencies.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, the community led by its leader Rupesh Velip said they have been betrayed and denied several rights and basic demands.
“In response to the betrayal to ST Community at the Centre and the State, we extend our support to INDIA alliance candidates of North Goa and South Goa,” the tribal leader said.
He claimed that all the 16 organisations associated with Mission Political Reservation for Schedule Tribes are in line with their decision to support INDIA alliance candidates.
The leaders hailed Congress’ assurance wherein AICC in-charge Manickrao Thakre and GPCC President Amit Patkar categorically stated they will give political reservation to STs of Goa within one year, by following all legal procedures, once their alliance forms government at the Centre.
The ST Community leaders have been demanding political reservation since 2003 after getting ST status. Velip said that they had received suggestions from their community members to field ST Candidates in North and South Goa; “however, it was kept on hold as it might divide the votes and benefit the ruling party.”
It may be recalled that the tribal leaders had vowed to teach the BJP government a lesson in the May 7 Lok Sabha polls over the failure to notify political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes.
Tribals leaders under the banner ‘Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes were on a chain hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding immediate notification to reserve four assembly constituencies -- Sanguem, Priol, Quepem and Nuvem for the community candidate.
