Goa’s Scheduled Tribes demand political reservation before upcoming LS polls

MARGAO: The Mission for Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Goa (MPRSTG) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. 

They are demanding that he leads an all-party delegation to the Union government of India to seek political reservation for ST communities in the Goa Legislative Assembly before the upcoming Lok Sabha (LS) election. MPRSTG President, Adv Joao Fernandes, stated, “In order to awaken the Goa Chief Minister (CM) and the Government of Goa from their deep slumber regarding the as-surance given to the ST Community on the floor of the house, we give an ultimatum of 15 days from today to take an all-party delegation to the Union Government and return with a notification reserving seats for the STs of Goa. Otherwise, we will launch the ‘Ulgulaan’ movement (a tribal rebellion held in Ranchi against the British) across Goa from the 16th day, starting from the residence of the CM.”

During the monsoon session of the Assembly, a unanimous resolution was passed after MLA Ganesh Gaonkar tabled a resolution urging the government to fulfil the ST com-munity’s long standing demand for political reservation in the Goa Legislative Assembly. The CM had also assured the House that an all-party delegation would be taken to the Union Government to address this issue. “However, even three months after adopting the unanimous resolution, we have not seen any positive steps taken by the Goa CM and the Goa government (as per the as-surance). Therefore, the entire ST Community of Goa feels cheated and betrayed,” said Fernandes. 

MPRSTG members said it appears that Sawant and the BJP in Goa are waiting for the upcoming LS Election to be announced so that another fake assurance and empty promise can be given to the STs of Goa. Fernandes highlighted the sacrifice made by the ST community during the Balli agitation of 2011, in which two youths lost their lives while protesting for political reservation and 11 other demands. “At that time, since BJP was the main opposition, it openly supported this agitation. However, after coming to power, it appears that BJP has become blind to the main demand of political reservation,” said Fernandes.