MARGAO
Sounding the bugle, the Mission Political Reservations for the Scheduled Tribes on Wednesday set 15-day ultimatum on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to lead an all party delegation to the Centre and return back with a notification from the Union government reserving seats for the STs in the Goa Legislative Assembly.
The Mission has warned that the Scheduled Tribes will be left with no option than to launch “Ulgulaan” movement across Goa from the 16th day from the Chief Minister’s residence.
He said the Mission has decided to resort to the Ulgulaan mode of agitation to what they say to awaken the Goa CM and Government of Goa from their deep sleep on the assurance given to the ST Community on the floor of the House.
Addressing the media addressed by Mission President Adv Joao Fernandes, Rupesh Velip and others, the leaders reminded the Goa CM and Scheduled Tribe MLAs who are presently part and parcel of Government of Goa, that the ST community has already sacrificed two youths during the infamous Balli agitation of 2011, while protesting for the demand of ‘Political Reservation’ and other 11 demands.
“At that time, since BJP was the main opposition, it openly supported this agitation. However, after coming to power, it appears that BJP has become blind on the main demand of political reservation”, they said.
They added: “It appears that Goa CM and Goa BJP waiting for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to be announced so that another fake assurance and empty promise is given to the STs of Goa in light of the upcoming Loksabha elections of 2024”.
“During the Monsoon Assembly session on 21st July 2023, MLA Ganesh Gaonkar had tabled a resolution on the floor of the house. The resolution stated that this House strongly recommends the Government to make provision for political reservation in the Goa Legislative Assembly for the Scheduled Tribes of Goa State. As per the census of 2011, Scheduled Tribes (ST) constitute 10.23% of Goa’s population. This community deserves to be brought in to the mainstream, needs support to make the community more educated as well as empowered and hence needs a larger political representation to achieve the same”’, the ST leaders pointed out.
Reminding that the resolution was supported by ruling BJP Government as well as opposition, the Mission said the resolution was passed unanimously after a brief discussion.
“While speaking on this resolution, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who is also the Minister for Tribal Welfare further assured to the house that he will take all party delegation to the Union Government of India to resolve the long pending issue of ‘Political reservation for Scheduled Tribe of Goa in Goa Assembly’”, they said.
The Mission, however, lamented that even after three months from the day of adopting the said unanimous resolution, the ST community have not seen any positive steps taken by the Goa CM and Goa Government to fulfill the said assurance and to take the all-party delegation to the Centre.
“The entire Scheduled Tribe (ST) Community of Goa is feeling cheated and betrayed. It appears that Goa CM and Goa BJP waiting for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to be announced so that another fake assurance and empty promise is given to the ST’s of Goa in light of the upcoming 2024 polls”, they added.
