the goan I network
MARGAO
This question has come to the fore as the ongoing Parliament session may perhaps turn out to be the last session offering hope for the ST communities in Goa for reservation of seats in the coming election. Contrary to Minister for Tribal Welfare Ramesh Tawadkar’s stand that the Election Commission of India is seized of the matter, many say the ball is indeed in the court of the Parliament and the Election Commission of India.
Former State Election Commissioner and President of Goa Forward Party Prabhakar Timble said the statement of Tawadkar is misleading and in total disregard of facts. “The Readjustment of Representation of SC/ST in Parliament and Assembly Constituencies (Third) Ordinance, 2013, issued by UPA has lapsed. It is for the government to either issue a fresh ordinance or get the law passed in Parliament. The Election Commission has no power to move further in the matter in the absence of any statute to this effect,”
he said.
Timble further said the ECI has conducted a survey and identified constituencies to be reserved for scheduled tribes in Goa. The ECI cannot issue notification calling for objections, without the law in place, he added. “Manohar Parrikar had assured the gathering of tribal communities at Bali during his stint as chief minister about his commitment to reserve constituencies for ST. It is for him now as Defence Minister and being part of the top cabinet to prevail upon BJP government at Centre to get the bill passed. The bill is pending before the Lok Sabha with the report of the Standing Committee,”
he said. Timble said the two ministers in the central cabinet need to take up the issue in right earnest. “Tribal Minister Ramesh Tawadkar is barking up against the wrong tree (in this case ECI). His voice should be heard by Parrikar, Shripad and Sawaikar. It is pointless to make ECI a scapegoat. The blame is on BJP government at the Centre for keeping quiet on the bill pending before Lok Sabha,” he added.
UTAA Chief Prakash Velip, who returned to the BJP fold a month ago, said he has taken up the issue with the Defence Minister and the Goa government. “The problem is many amendment bills are pending in Parliament. The solution lies in coordination between political parties so that the STs gets justice as per the Constitution,” Prakash said.
