MARGAO: Alleging that the government has failed to keep the promise made and resolution passed in the monsoon session of the Assembly, to take an all-party delegation to Delhi to seek political reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST), the NGO Mission Political Reservation has given an ultimatum of seven days to the State government.
Even five months after the assembly session, no action has been initiated to this effect, informed the NGO.
They have warned of marching to the house of the Speaker in protest and intensifying the agitation if the government fails to initiate necessary steps within the next seven days.
“Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes of Goa which is a supported by 16 ST organization had launched ‘Ulgulaan’ movement with thousands of people on November 15 at Azad Maidan Panaji, to give an ultimatum to Government so that notification is issued to reserve seats for ST’s in Assembly before 2024 Parliamentary elections,” said Mission President Adv Joao Fernandes,
“On July 21, during the last Assembly session, Goa CM had assured on the floor of the house that he will take an all-party delegation to the Union Government of India. However, even after five months from the day of adopting the said unanimous resolution, which was tabled by MLA Ganesh Gaonkar, Pramod Sawant has failed to take any positive steps. Therefore, we believe that it is the duty of the Speaker of the House Ramesh Tawadkar to fulfil the assurance given by CM Sawant, who also holds the portfolio of Tribal Welfare. There are no efforts put by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar to get this
resolution implemented,” Fernandes added.
“Therefore, the entire Scheduled Tribe (ST) Community of Goa is feeling cheated and betrayed. The community demands that the Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar should take the all-party delegation to the Centre and get the notification issued before the declaration of the 2024 parliamentary. Therefore, Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled tribes of Goa, which is a body supported by 16 ST organizations, gives an ultimatum to Speaker Tawadkar to act within seven days failing which we will be forced to march at the residence of the Speaker with the ST leaders and community members from Canacona and other parts of Goa to remind him about his powers and duties as Speaker of the Assembly. He should stay loyal to the community and not to the party,” Fernandes stated.
He added that the Mission has aggressively run its Ulgulaan movement for Tribal rights in the last one-and-a half-months and completed around 70 meetings in ST-dominated villages in different parts of Goa
