Poll hopes of Christian carpenters dashed

MARGAO: Carpenters from the Christian Community intended to contest the ensuing polls from the OBC quota may have to think twice.
For Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes has held that Christian carpenters does not fall in the OBC category and hence cannot contest the Municipal polls on the OBC quota.
In fact, the deputy Collector on Tuesday has rejected an application for a caste certificate made by a resident of Madel Matheus Pereira. Madel ward is reserved for OBC candidate this ensuing polls, leaving many a prospective candidate from the general category in the lurch.
When contacted, Johnson informed that the government has till date not included Christian Carpenters in the OBC category. Only Charis (carpenters) have been included in the OBC category, he said.
Meanwhile, local NGOs has alleged that many caste certificates have been obtained by candidates by filing false affidavits after obtaining caste report from the Samaj.
They pointed out that the office of the deputy Collector should scrutinize all cases and book the guilty under the law.