PONDA: Sports Minister Govind Gaude is in the news again for launching a scathing attack on his own government.
Stating that it was wrong on the part of the government to use the tribal communities only for votes, he said that the tribal communities need to intensify their agitation to get their demands fulfilled.
Gaude said that several demands of the tribals are still pending with the government.
Gaude also felt the absence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the ‘Prerana Din’ commemoration hosted by Directorate of Tribal Welfare at Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda, in memory of late Dilip Velip and Mangesh Gaonkar.
He observed that the CM should have been present for the function and added that few leaders, who had never contributed towards the agitation, are misguiding the youth.
He said that United Tribals Association Alliance (UTTA) needs to intensify their agitation to get the demands fulfilled.
UTAA president Prakash Velip while also stating that he was upset by the Chief Minister’s absence at the ‘Prerana Din’ commemoration, pointed out that the political reservation for Scheduled Tribes and fulfilment of pending demands must be done before the next assembly elections.
Making a common cause with Sports Minister Govind Gaude, Velip said, “If the need arises we will launch an agitation once again.”
UTAA told the officials of the department in clear words that if the tribal welfare department does not work to meet all the demands of the tribal community before the next Prerna Din, then the officials of this department should leave their posts.
Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar also expressed unhappiness over pending demands of ST communities and said those who were in UTAA agitation should unite over issue.
The officials of ST, SC Corporation and Tribal Commission were present at the function.
