PANAJI
Demanding the postponement of panchayat elections by four months, Opposition Leader Michael Lobo on Tuesday said elections should be done with proper reservation of OBC wards by following all criteria.
"It will be unjust to OBCs if elections are held without reservation of wards to OBCs. A proper and fair detailed report of ward-wise OBC population has to be made following the process and a ward with maximum OBC population has to be reserved, so that OBC people get representation,” said Lobo.
Lobo accused the government of blackmailing many local leaders to support their panel by threatening that their ward would be reserved for OBC.
Lobo demanded that in four months, the government should appoint administrators to govern the panchayats.
"Put an administrator in the panchayats as there is no provision for panchayats to continue,” said Lobo.
Lobo said the Supreme court has been clear in stating that reservation of OBC wards should be based on a triple test.
As per the apex court order, the process of data collection of OBC population has to be routed through the OBC commission. However, the State OBC commission is presently defunct.
"Based on finding of BLOs, the OBC commission has to give data to SEC. The government has to appoint a strong OBC commission and then conduct data collection through the commission. This will take time so the elections can be conducted in October,” he added.
“If we conduct the panchayat elections now, all wards will be general wards except those reserved for SC and ST and this will be a great injustice to the OBCs,” he said.
Lobo warned that if the government did not follow the procedure and norms laid down by the Supreme Court, an aggrieved person would approach the apex court and all procedures would be stalled.
“As per norms, 33 percent reservation of wards should be done for OBCs.
