MARGAO: In a massive show of strength to mark the twelfth anniversary of the death of two tribal activists in Balli agitation, the Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes of Goa (MPRSTG) and Gakuved Federation, in Association with 14 ST organisations of Goa came together to criticise the government for allegedly painting a false narrative that their demands had been fulfilled.
The large gathering also resolved that the ST community will boycott the 2024 Lok Sabha elections if the notification to reserve the seats in Goa Assembly for STs is not issued.
At a protest held at Lohia Maidan on Thursday to observe the death anniversary of Tribal leaders Manguesh Gaonkar and Dilip Velip, senior ST leaders held a hunger strike, which was followed by a brain storming session, where prominent ST leaders addressed the large gathering and hit out at the State government and also those tribal leaders supporting the government.
“This government has only used us for its political interests. None of our 12 demands have been met. We are on a hunger strike so that we can force the government to give our constitutional rights, which it is not ready to give us,” said the tribal leaders.
Later, several resolutions were passed unanimously, which included the demand that the notification to reserve the seats for STs in Goa Assembly under Article 332 should be issued by the Central government in coordination with the State government prior to declaration of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
“The pending constitutional obligations towards the ST community of Goa, for which late Dilip Velip and late Manguesh Gaonkar sacrificed their lives, shall be taken forward to their logical end. We hereby unanimously resolve that, from today we shoulder this responsibility and will make the Government accountable to fulfill all the pending demands,” said Govind Shirodkar, while reading one such resolution.
“After deliberating on all the pending constitutional obligations such as Schedule Area notification, 12% budgetary fund utilisation under Tribal sub-plan, Forest Rights claims, Tribes Advisory Council, filling of backlog vacancies etc, it is concluded that all the above-mentioned issues can be addressed by sending ST MLAs into the Goa Assembly on reserved seats by implementing political reservation,” said Adv Upasso Gaonkar, while reading another resolution.
“The claims made by the leaders of the alliance that only two demands remain unfulfilled, is incorrect and we strongly condemn such statements. Most of the demands have remained unfulfilled,” said Adv John Fernandes, MPRSTG President.
Referring to the alliance formed in 2004 to fulfil the constitutional obligations towards the ST community and the infamous Balli agitation in 2011 where there was outrage following the death of the two tribal leaders, Fernandes stated that the agitation under the alliance should have intensified after the tragedy.
“However, suddenly the alliance leaders restrained themselves from taking forward the agenda of the alliance and as a result we have not seen any protests or agitations or lobbying with the government after the Assembly elections of 2012. The leaders who were leading the agitation then are now enjoying power under the present Government,” Adv John added.
