CANACONA
Arts and Culture Minister Govind Gaude on Wednesday said leaders should not take political mileage of the martyrdom of two members of the United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA) in 2011.
Gaude was addressing a function to install the bust near the residence of late Mangesh Gaonkar at Ziltawadi-Gaondongrim on Wednesday morning. He also paid homage to late Deelip Velip at Morpila (Quepem).
Among those present at the ceremony at Gaondongrim included UTAA leader and former minister Prakash Velip, Gomantak Gaud Marata Samaj President Vishwas Gaude, ex-MLA Vasudev Meng Gaonkar, ZP (Poinguinim) Shobhana Velip, Durgadas Gawde, the father of late Mangesh, ex-Sarpanch (Cotigao) Daya Gaonkar and other UTAA members.
Incidentally, Canacona MLA and Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, who during his tenure as Poinguinim MLA was one of the leaders who had participated in the 2011 Balli agitation, was not present at the event in Gaondongrim.
“It is due to the agitation and supreme sacrifice of Mangesh Gaonkar of Ziltawadi-Gaondongrim and Deelip Velip of Morpila (Quepem) that the Gauda, Kunbi and Velip communities got the benefits of various schemes from the government,” said Gaude.
“The future generations should be aware of the sacrifices of Mangesh and Deelip, and hence the need of ‘Prerna Din’ is much essential. No leader should try to take political mileage out of the martyrdom of Mangesh and Deelip,” he added.
“During the construction of Adivasi Bhavan, the statues of Mangesh and Deelip will also be installed there, and necessary government approval has already been obtained for that. Whatever benefits that we (Gauda, Kunbi and Velip communities) are getting today is due to UTAA’s efforts. The 24 schemes what we are getting today are only due to the agitations launched by UTAA and no one else.”
Ex-minister and UTAA leader Prakash Velip said Mangesh and Deelip were the brave warriors from ST community.
