Digital Goa, Oct 10 – Reservation is not possible for Scheduled Tribe Community in Goa assembly as the ST population in the state is very small as per census, informed Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment of India Ramdas Athawale. He was reacting to a query by media persons as to whether his ministry plans to take any measures to ensure reservation for ST in Goa State Legislative Assembly. “The population of Scheduled Tribes in Goa is very small as per the census. Hence reservation is not possible,” he said.
▪️ Stakeholders demand clarification from CM over Athawale’s statement
ST leaders in Goa had earlier warned of boycotting the Lok Sabha elections if the long pending reservation issue was not taken to logical conclusion by the Center. The Goa Assembly session in July this year had also unanimously adopted a private member resolution asking the government to make provisions for political reservation in the Goa Assembly for STs. On this backdrop the Union Ministers statement has stirred a hornet’s nest, with reactions coming in from various quarters. Mission Political Reservation for ST’s of Goa as well as Goa Forward leader Vijai Sardesai demanded clarification from Goa BJP and CM Sawant over the statement.
