Team Herald
MARGAO: Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar has said that Scheduled Castes (ST) and Scheduled Tribes (SC) in Goa are still facing caste/creed discriminations.
Speaking at a function held in Margao by SC/ST Commission, Ajgaonkar said, “There is caste discrimination still in Goa. If the person who is a victim of discrimination complains, we can imprison the offender. But, will we earn the respect we deserve by filing complaints?”
He claimed that persons from Scheduled Caste still don’t have space in crematoriums and it is sad. “Some have forcibly cremated the deceased but purification is done after they leave,” he claimed.
“No person can deny us our rights, but will our fighting get us a dignified place in the society?” the minister asked.
“Some temples even today don’t allow SC/ST persons near the inner sanctorum and it is sad. Our forefathers lived under the fear inflicted on them by the people from superior castes and creeds and that fear has trickled down to the present generation, too,” the minister said.
He also said that even after he became public representative and minister he still feels the low dignity for the caste.
Highlighting that Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant comes from Bahujan Samaj, he said, “His is truly an inclusive government where a public representative like me have become the deputy chief minister and I am proud of that.”
