MARGAO
Asserting the Goa government is unnecessarily delaying the political reservations for the ST community in Goa, the Mission Political Reservations for the Scheduled Tribes of Goa has warned that the forum will give a call to the community to boycott the Lok Sabha elections in protest.
Forum Secretary Rupesh Velip said the Goa government is unnecessarily delaying the proposal which is pending approval in the office of the Chief Minister.
“We believe in the Constitution of India and are committed to demanding our constitutional rights from non-violent means as the community cannot afford to lose any more youths,” he said, as the Forum has constituted the Canacona taluka committee under the leadership of Nitesh Velip.
The Canacona ST leaders have extended support to the ‘Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes of Goa’.
Forum president John Fernandes warned the government and the Election Commission of India that the Scheduled Tribes of Goa may boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha election of 2024 if the notification reserving the seats for Scheduled Tribes of Goa under Article 330 and 332 is not issued before the election.
Mission spokesman Govind Shirodkar shed light on the struggle of late leaders like Kashinath Jalmi, Antonio Gauncar, Vasu Paik Gaonkar, Durgadas Gaonkar etc.
“It was a 20 years struggle which started in the year 1981 because of which the Gawada, Kunbi and Velip finally got Scheduled Tribes status in 2003 under the banner of Gakuved Federation,” he said.
