GAURESH SATTARKAR
Warning the State government of severe political consequences, in cluding a potential repeat of the historic Balli stir, over a thousand members of the Dhangar community gath ered at the Shrisan Plaza Hall here on Sunday, setting a deadline of August 15 to grant them Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, failing which they will launch a mega “Jail Bharo” agitation in Panjim. Speakers at the meeting declared that the communi ty would no longer tolerate continuous injustice. Former Deputy Chief Minister Chan drakant ‘Babu’ Kavlekar stated that the community’s anger is deep-seated. “As a last effort to secure justice, determination meetings are being organised across Goan constituencies. Today, our youth are politically aware and refusing to tolerate this systemic neglect. It is becom ing increasingly difficult to control their growing anger,” Kavlekar said. He pointed out that while nine Chief Ministers have come and gone, the commu nity continues to feel mar ginalised. “We have repeat edly met State and Central leaders to explain the injus tice. Every mistake pointed out in our representations by the authorities was pains takingly corrected, yet new objections and shortcom ings were raised each time. The community has waited 23 years for these issues to be resolved, leading to pro found disappointment,” he added. Kavlekar revealed that since he has not been in the Leg islative Assembly for the past four-and-a-half years, not a single MLA has raised the Dhangar community’s issues on the House floor. He noted that despite travelling to Delhi with Chief Min ister Pramod Sawant to push for the ST status, the commu nity was recently informed that their ethnographic report had been rejected. “The days of fooling our people are over.
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The youth are agitated and ready to take to the streets for their constitutional rights,” Kavlekar warned, making a fi nal appeal to the government. The convention warned that a “Cockroach Party” would emerge to disrupt the political landscape. Kavlekar cau tioned that the Dhangar community would “disturb the sleep” of ruling politicians in the upcoming elections. Sanguem Taluka Dhangar Community president Babu Jangle stated that if their demands are ignored past Au gust 15, the community will not back down from launching the “Jail Bharo” stir in the capital. He added that they are prepared to escalate the agitation to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to protest against those responsible for the impasse. Other community leaders spoke sharply against the ruling dispensation. Laxman Kavlekar noted that Babu Kavlekar had set aside his personal political interests to join the BJP specifically for the welfare of the community, but BJP leaders had utterly failed to fulfill their promis es. “Our leader Babu Kavlekar is a simple person, and the government should not take advantage of his simplicity,” he said. Abhijit Misal alleged that the government was deliber ately delaying the reservation process, asserting that there would be no more retreats. Wagha Misal highlighted 23 years of unbroken injustice, stating, “Give us our consti tutional rights, or we will show the BJP government our strength in the next elections.” Dilip Vark expressed that public trust in the administra tion has completely evaporated, appealing to all Dhangar community members to resign from their respective politi cal positions in protest. Emphasising their electoral clout, Gangaram Lambor stated that the sons of the soil are being deprived of basic rights.
He warned that if forced to make a united stand, the Dhangar vote bank has the mathematical strength to defeat candidates across at least seven Assembly constituencies in Goa. Jaya Yamkar highlighted that despite being one of the most backward groups, the government machinery has failed to provide necessary administrative follow-up. She questioned why the demand remains unfulfilled when all Goan MLAs publicly claim it is justified. Referencing the GAKUVED umbrella, she appealed to the three communi ties that have already received ST status to step forward and support the Dhangars. A large panel of local leaders, including Sarpanch Bunda Vark, Deepti Shingade, Rama Misal, Vithu Kharat, Vithoba Kharat, Balu Rekado, Savitri Kavlekar, Maya Jangle, Deepak Lambor and Manish Lambor, were present
