PONDA: Accusing the Dhavalikar brothers Sudin and Deepak of misleading the Scheduled Tribes (STs) on use of tribal fund for Banastarim Market which is for general public, United Tribals Associations Alliance (UTAA ) on Saturday dared the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) especially its leaders to reserve Priol, Nuvem, Sanguem and Canacona constituencies for ST candidates to contest on MGP ticket.
Addressing the media persons, UTAA General Secretary Durgadas Gaude, who is also chairman of the Tribal Corporation and VPK Society along with Ponda UTAA members alleged that the Dhavalikar brothers are shedding crocodile tears in view of the upcoming Assembly elections.
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He said, “UTAA has no problem if other backward communities are benefitting from the tribal fund projects. The Dhavalikar brothers are now politicising Banastarim Market issue, for which the tribal fund has been utilised following the government criteria.”
He said, “The tribal fund has been used for development of Banastarim Market through tribal fund of Central government under Article 175 and as per the criteria framed to use the same for ST purpose. There is no harm if the other Bahujan communities benefit from it. Keeping an eye on 2022 Assembly elections, the Dhavalikar brothers are playing vote bank politics on the utilisation of tribal fund.”
Gaude said, “Sudin says tribal fund should not be used for other purposes but Sudin during his tenure as minister used the tribal fund for procuring Bal Rath buses for students. Dhavalikar even put his name on these buses. If Dhavalikar brothers claim that the MGP is the party of the Bahujans then they should prove it by reserving Priol, Sanguem, Canacona and Nuvem for the STs.”
He appreciated Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude for launching schemes for STs through tribal fund.
