PANAJI:
The current managing committee of the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) headed by former Minister, Prakash Velip, has begun to face the heat days after the Priol MLA, Govind Gaude was removed from the cabinet of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
On Friday, the South Goa District Registrar and Inspector General of Societies, issued interim orders restraining Velip and others from functioning as executive members of UTAA following allegations of violating the organisation's bye-laws.
The Registrar has also barred them from using the UTAA name and seal or from holding meetings under its banner until the elections which are scheduled to be held in September.
Velip and his faction was known to be sympathetic to Gaude in the feud with Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar.
Meanwhile another leading tribal organisation, GAKUVED has said that members from all member organisations will get representation in the upcoming UTTA elections.
"We will hold meetings across Goa and ensure that the UTTA is not used as a platform for political power play," said Govind Shirodkar, GAKUVED president and founding member of UTTA. He alleged that Velip had begun functioning in a dictatorial manner.
Velip meanwhile told The Goan that he and his committee members will give their public response to the order of the South Goa District Registrar on Monday.
"We will hold a press conference on Monday to clarify our response to the order issued by the South Goa District Registrar. We will keep you posted on Monday on what the real truth and facts are. We will respond to the allegations made against us by other organisations," Velip said.
