MARGAO
Strongly rallying behind Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude over his controversial remarks on the functioning of the Tribal Welfare Department, the United Tribals Associations' Alliance on Tuesday called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to clarify that Gaude’s statement was directed at the officials heading the Tribal department and not the Chief Minister.
UTAA leaders have also spoken to BJP State leadership Damu Naik and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade over the controversy and made its stand clear the Art and Culture Minister had in no way criticized the Chief Minister from UTTA’s platform at Ponda held to observe Prerna Dis to commemorate the death anniversary of tribal youth Manguesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip.
UTAA leader Vishwas Gaude, however, made it clear at a media briefing that tribal organizations will strongly rally behind the Art and Culture Minister. When asked by media how would UTAA go about in the event the Chief Minister drops Govind Gaude from the Cabinet, Vishwas asserted UTAA and tribal organizations will meet and take appropriate decision.
Addressing the media, UTAA leaders led by President Prakash Velip said the Chief Minister is satisfied with the clarification given by the UTAA delegation that Govind Gaude’s statement was not aimed at the CM. He said Minister Govind Gaude, who is presently out of station, will call on the Chief Minister no sooner he returns home and explain his position on the unsavoury row.
“Minister Govind Gaude is one of the top UTAA leaders who had spearheaded by the 2011 agitation in support of the 12-point charter of demands. He had suffered jail for 62 days for the cause of the tribals. When he spoke at the UTTA programme, he spoke his heart out how officials of the Tribal department have even not followed the CM’s instruction on the Tribal Bhavan. We have to understand his sentiments. He has no in way criticised the CM," Prakash Velip said.
He added: “One can well imagine the frustration of a Minster when work has not started at the Tribal bhavan when the foundation stone was laid three years ago. We have nothing against the CM. In fact, I had complimented the CM for pursuing the ST political reservation Bill”, he said.
He reminded that a former Tribal Welfare Department Director had even criticised UTAA for bypassing him and throwing protocol to the winds by directly calling on the CM.
To a question, he said the UTAA delegation called on the CM and spoke to the BJP leadership to clarify that a wrong message should not go from the UTAA programme held on Sunday. “The BJP leadership can listen to the recording. With government support, we want to move forward and achieve our Constitutional rights. At the same time, the government should understand the sentiments of UTAA leaders”, he added.
Vishwas Gawde said UTAA is fully behind Minister Govind Gaude, adding that UTAA will respond to any call given by the Minister.
