MARGAO
The Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes of Goa have resolved to boycott the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if notification regarding reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Assembly is not issued prior to Parliamentary election.
With the Forum holding awareness programme in the talukas which have a significant ST population, President Adv Joao Fernandes has appealed to the members to join the mass movement to ‘’achieve the goal of getting political reservation before 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. He appealed to give their time, knowledge, intellectual & those who have money contribute for the cause.
After the Forum has constituted the panel for Quepem taluka, a furious Attorney of the Mission Ravindra Velip questioned why the State Government is taking time to forward the proposal to the Central Government to reserve seats for scheduled tribes in Goa Assembly.
He further explained that Election Commission of India(ECI) is a Constitutional body and as per the Judgment of Allahabad High Court of 2017, Election Commission of India has got absolute powers under article 324 read with 327 of Constitution of India to reserve seats for Scheduled Tribes. Secondly one seat was reserved for SC in Goa in Dhargalim constituency by Election Commission vide notification No. 282/Goa/88 dated 20.05.1988 by exercising their powers under Section 17 of ‘The Goa, Daman and Diu Reorganisation Act, 1987.
He said the Taluka Level committee of 25 members was constituted for Quepem taluka which will hold awareness meetings in every Village panchayat of Quepem Taluka. Well known journalist and GAKUVED federation member Soiru Velip was appointed unanimously as president.
“ We cannot wait for another four years when one of the demands i.e. ‘Political Reservation’ can be done within six months when there is a BJP Govt in the State as well as at Centre with clear majority. The worry of the community is that ‘What if in 2024 the BJP Government fails to get a clear majority at Centre”, Rupesh questioned.
Vice president of Quepem taluka mission Remedio Rebello said Chief minister of Goa is the protector of the ST community being tribal minister, adding “it's his duty to give protection to us and we are sure he will not do injustice to us and if required we should meet him again and again till he fulfills our demand”.
