PANAJI
Scheduled Tribes (ST) leaders have warned that the government will face the community’s wrath at the ballot box in the 2027 Assembly elections if political reservation is not granted. They also accused the government of failing to effectively defend their constitutional rights before the courts.
The warning was issued at a mega gathering organised by the United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA) at Vaddem, Sanguem, to discuss the community’s next course of action following the High Court’s stay on the ST seat readjustment notification.
UTAA president Prakash Velip alleged that crucial demographic data had not been placed before the High Court, contributing to the legal setback.
He said the population of the Gauda, Kunbi and Velip communities, which constitute Goa’s ST population, was established at 9.9 per cent in 2013, with the official details shared by the Census Commission with the Union Law Ministry.
Velip alleged that the government failed to bring these records to the court’s notice, hurting the community.
UTAA leader Govind Shirodkar said the association has filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court, spending lakhs of rupees from community resources.
