Margao: Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes of Goa on Saturday gave state assembly speaker Ramesh Tawadkar seven days to act on its demand to send an all-party delegation to the Centre over political reservation for the STs in the state.
“(If he fails to act in time) we will be forced to march to Tawadkar’s residence to remind him about his powers and duties as the speaker of the assembly,” said the president of the association, Joao Fernandes.“He should stay loyal to the community and not to the party.”
Fernandes said that five months after the chief minister assured the House of leading an all-party delegation to the Centre, the government has “failed to take any positive steps”.
Fernandes said, “Therefore, we believe that it is the duty of the speaker to fulfil the assurance given by the chief minister who also holds the tribal welfare portfolio.” He added, “There are no efforts from the speaker to get the assembly resolution on the matter implemented.”
The tribal association had held an agitation and a public meeting at Azad maidan, Panaji, last month to press for the demand for tribal rights and political reservation for the STs in the state. Earlier, the association had given the CM an ultimatum of 15 days to lead an all-party delegation to the Centre to facilitate political reservation for the STs in Goa.
“The mission has completed about 70 ulgulaan meetings in ST-dominated villages across Goa,” Fernandes said. “Meetings were held in Poriem, Ponda, Cumbharjua, Sanquelim, Cuncolim, Canacona, Sanguem, Quepem, Priol, and parts of the Salcete taluka.”
“(If he fails to act in time) we will be forced to march to Tawadkar’s residence to remind him about his powers and duties as the speaker of the assembly,” said the president of the association, Joao Fernandes.“He should stay loyal to the community and not to the party.”
Fernandes said that five months after the chief minister assured the House of leading an all-party delegation to the Centre, the government has “failed to take any positive steps”.
Fernandes said, “Therefore, we believe that it is the duty of the speaker to fulfil the assurance given by the chief minister who also holds the tribal welfare portfolio.” He added, “There are no efforts from the speaker to get the assembly resolution on the matter implemented.”
The tribal association had held an agitation and a public meeting at Azad maidan, Panaji, last month to press for the demand for tribal rights and political reservation for the STs in the state. Earlier, the association had given the CM an ultimatum of 15 days to lead an all-party delegation to the Centre to facilitate political reservation for the STs in Goa.
“The mission has completed about 70 ulgulaan meetings in ST-dominated villages across Goa,” Fernandes said. “Meetings were held in Poriem, Ponda, Cumbharjua, Sanquelim, Cuncolim, Canacona, Sanguem, Quepem, Priol, and parts of the Salcete taluka.”