PANAJI
A Scheduled Tribes (ST) organisation has warned the Goa government that it will campaign against it if political reservation for STs is not granted due to pressure from other communities.
Mission Political Reservation leader Mission Political Reservation Govind Shirodkar said the first public meeting of the group will be held in Sanguem to build support. “If the government gives in to pressure and denies us our constitutional right, we will oppose it village by village,” he said.
At a press conference, he was joined by organisation president John Fernandes, and office bearers Joseph Vaz and Ravindra Velip.
The group criticised delays in implementing the reservation bill, which has already been passed by Parliament and received Presidential approval. “Ten months have passed, yet we are still waiting for a notification of just a few lines,” Shirodkar said.
He also accused BJP leader Subhash Phal Desai of changing his stand, saying he raised no objections when the bill was unanimously passed in the Assembly but is now opposing it.
The delegation said it had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah three times, most recently on June 7. They said Shah directed them to the Solicitor General, who asked for 15 days to respond. “That time has passed, but nothing has moved,” Shirodkar said.
The group alleged that the government is insulting ST legislators by ignoring their demands. “Disrespect to our representatives is disrespect to the entire community,” Fernandes said.
With elections due in 2027, the organisation fears the reservation may be delayed beyond the polls. It warned that if the government gives in to pressure, it will face strong opposition from ST communities across Goa. The group said its agitation will intensify unless the notification is issued and reservation is implemented before the next election.
