Raising strong objections in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, MLA Govind Gaude criticised the State government’s decision to appoint an administrator to the Gomantak Goud Maratha Samaj Association and the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA), calling it an unjustified intervention in institutions pivotal to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) community.
Through a Calling Attention motion, Gaude expressed deep concern over the implications of the move, warning that it cast doubts on the legality of Samaj Certificates and the continued management of key community affairs.
Accusing the government of targeting non-profit bodies, Gaude alleged, “The BJP is the only government to ban a non-profit organisation.” He described the order issued by the Inspector General of Registration as biased and reminded the House of UTAA’s past support for the BJP. “If BJP's DNA is tribal, then why ban UTAA?” he questioned.
He demanded the immediate withdrawal of restrictions, the removal of the administrator, and the restoration of autonomy to the affected organisations.
“If the government does not lift the ban, it will show that it does not stand with the tribal people. I accuse the government of being divisive,” Gaude asserted.
Echoing Gaude’s concerns, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao described the situation as an ‘undeclared emergency’ and demanded that the Chief Minister clarify the timeline for lifting the ban. He also sought an explanation on the legal grounds for appointing an administrator and urged transparency in the matter.
Responding to the allegations, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified that there is no complete ban on UTAA. He said the appointment of an administrator is a temporary, six-month measure and stressed that the government had not directly intervened in the organisations’ affairs. He explained that the matter was being handled by the Inspector General of Registration as per legal procedures.
Sawant reiterated the government’s commitment to the welfare of the ST community, but stated that intervention became necessary due to internal disputes, failure to comply with statutory regulations, and allegations of mismanagement that had disrupted essential public services. He also detailed the sequence of events that led to the proposal for appointing an administrator, adding that the role was limited to managing daily operations and issuing Samaj Certificates in accordance with the law.