Team Herald
PONDA: Acting on a complaint by United Tribal Associations Alliance (UTTA), the Ponda Police on Sunday night registered an FIR against one Sudeep Dalvi for his alleged derogatory post on a social media platform against Tribal Welfare Minister Govind Gaude.
Ponda DySP Nelson Albuquerque is investigating the case.
Earlier in the day, UTTA had complained to the Ponda Police demanding that an FIR be registered against Dalvi, a resident of Vasco but currently staying in Mapusa, for his alleged derogatory post on a social media platform against the minister.
The delegation led by its president and former minister Prakash Velip, met Ponda PI Mohan Gaude demanding that an offence be registered and action be taken within 24 hours against Dalvi under Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Atrocities Act 1989.
PI Gaude said, “The police have immediately started investigating the complaint filed by UTAA.”
Velip said, “ST community will not tolerate such an insult against ST and its minister and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should also look into matter as the minister is his colleague.”
He said entire 12 per cent ST population has condemned the incident.
Adv Panashikar said, “If today we tolerate such an insult then more anti-social elements will get an opportunity to attack our community.”
In the complaint, Velip said, “The Vasco resident, who is presently residing at Mapusa, had posted a comment on social media dated June 4 in respect of ST community and had mentioned the caste of Tribal Minister Govind Gaude thereby defaming him publicly under Section 3 of SC and ST Atrocities Act 1989.”
Velip alleged that the social media user’s sole intention is to defame ST community and minister Gaude.
He said the post led to chaos in the ST community which may lead to breach of peace in Goa.
He urged the PI to immediately register an FIR and investigate the matter under the provisions of the ST/SC Atrocities Act.
He informed that the copies of the complaint have been forwarded to the CM, Tribal Minister, SC/ST Commission, Cyber Crime Cell, Crime Branch and other government departments.
Meanwhile, Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, media coordinator of All India Adivasi Employees’ Federation, Goa condemned the alleged derogatory remarks against minister Gaude on social media and demanded that the Ponda Police and government initiate prompt action against the social media user.
UTAA has attached a Xerox copy of the post in its complaint.
It is alleged that the social media user made the derogatory remark against the Gauda community. However, it is learnt that the user did mention the minister’s surname and referred to his (Gaude’s) views in a video wherein he had stated that it is comfortable to wear a branded shirt worth Rs 3,000, which prompted Dalvi to post derogatory remark against the minister’s caste.
