MARGAO
The United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTAA) will take a call on the Chalo Panjim rally scheduled for August 13 on Saturday, a day after the Union Law Ministry issued the notification setting in motion the process for implementation of the ST political reservation law.
UTAA chief Prakash Velip told The Goan that the organisation has not stopped holding meetings in ST-dominated areas. He said a core committee meeting is scheduled on Saturday, which will be attended by the four ST MLAs, to decide the fate of the August 13 Chalo Panjim rally.
He made the statement after The Goan asked whether the August 13 rally would be called off in view of the notification issued by the Central government. “We will take a call on the matter on Saturday, after which UTAA leaders will brief the media,” he said.
Asked to shed light on the visit made by tribal leaders to the Chief Minister earlier in the day, Velip said the Chief Minister had briefed the delegation about the notification issued by the Central government and the process initiated thereafter.
To a question, the UTAA chief said he was confident that the notification would pave the way for reservation of seats for the ST community in the 2027 election.
“The entire process will not take more than two months to complete. Even if elections are held in December, the Scheduled Tribe communities will get reservation in the upcoming election,” he added.
Velip said UTAA has so far held around 400 meetings across ST-dominated wards in the State. “We had set a target of holding meetings in 650 ST-dominated wards. So far, we have held around 400 meetings. The meetings are continuing as scheduled,” he said.
