PANJIM: Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar on Friday alleged that officers from the Dalit community are discriminated upon by the government.
Speaking on the 126th Birth Anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Azgaonkar, seeking the Chief Minister’s attention to the issues of the Dalit community, said, “There are some officers from the community who are in various senior positions, if they go wrong, correct them and keep them at the position that they are. But, don’t take revenge over them and suppress them.”
Responding to the request, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who was on the dais, assured Azgaonkar and those present that there will be no discrimination from his office. He said, “If the minister feels that there is any injustice meted out to anyone, he should bring it to my notice. I do not look at any person from the caste or any other position except for the person’s work. However, except those who have done grave wrongs, I have helped everyone irrespective of whether they have voted me or not.”
Earlier, Azgaonkar pitched for additional quota for the Dalit community. “I’m pained that despite making sacrifices to safeguard our religion by facing lot of hardships, whenever we are given opportunities and reservations, there are people who feel pinched.”
Azgaonkar said, “It is my request to the Chief Minister that the reservation quota which has been slashed, at least in Goa, we should get more.”
