MARGAO: The United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) has strongly condemned the allegations that they were acting under political manipulation that were made against them by a section of ST leaders on Sunday.
“We categorically deny that UTAA is working under any political pressure. UTAA is an independent organisation” said UTAA President and senior tribal activist Prakash Velip.
He reiterated that the organisation has been fighting about tribal issues for decades and that two UTAA youths had also laid down their lives in one of their agitations.
“We take whatever issues that come before us to the government. Just two days ago, we submitted a 7-point agenda to the Chief Minister with our demands. These include issues regarding the eco-sensitive zones, land, political reservation, forest rights etc,” he added.
“We are not happy that our demands for political reservation have not been met as yet. If all the tribal people come together, then no one can deny that in the 2027 Assembly elections, the next Chief Minister can be from our community,” said Velip, calling for unity amongst the community.
He said that the South Goa-based group that made the allegations are unnecessarily fighting internally and trying to divide the tribal community in Goa, at a time when the tribal groups need to remain united and not look at each other as the enemy.
“We also follow the slogan of Babasaheb Ambedkar. ‘Educate, unite and fight for your rights’. We believe in Birsa Munda (tribal freedom fighter) as well. Let our record speak about who we are. There is also a book written about all that we have done for the rights of tribal people in the past 18 years,” Velip added.
