Team Herald
PORVORIM: In a rarity on the floor of the House, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Opposition leader Chandrakant Kavalekar were involved in a war of words on the issue of ST status to Dhangar issue.
During his speech, Opposition leader made a strong case for Dhangar community to be included in the ST communities and how the successive governments had failed to give justice to the community.
However, in his reply on Social Welfare, Chief Minister failed to make a mention of the issue which irked the Opposition leader, who made a mention again.
Parrikar in a passing reply only said “I will see that issue.”
Kavalekar, upset over the casual answer, charged that the CM was not serious.
“You are not serious about the issue as you did not even mention in the reply. When you were the Opposition leader you always taunted me saying Congress government was seated in State as well as Centre then why couldn’t I get it done then? Today BJP is there in Centre and State so why can’t you resolve now?” he asked.
To this Parrikar replied, “I am going to Delhi next week to discuss on mining issue and will take this matter up with the group of ministers.”
“The Opposition leader made a mistake of raising the issue on Social Welfare demands when he should have done it on demands for Tribal Welfare.”
Parrikar further said that while no decision has been taken on ST status, the State has transferred all tribal benefits to Dhangar community and 207 people have already benefited.
Kavalekar, however, was unsatisfied by the reply and insisted that CM take him too to Delhi for talks with group of ministers on the issue.
“From 2003 I was MLA and have taken this issue but you ignored me then and now too,” he said.
