Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: BJP tribal leader Ramesh Tawadkar today claimed that the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has assured to remove word “Bhumiputra” from the controversial Bhumiputra Adhikarani bill, which State Assembly passed, last week.
Tawadkar said that Bhumiputra refers to the son of the soil and backward class community, including Kunbi, Gawda. However, the use of the word may put the very identity of these communities under threat.
“I along with other leaders met CM Sawant to seek clarification on certain aspects of the bill. The word Bhumiputra is basically referred to son of soil and to backward class community including Kunbi, Gawda and the use of the word may put the very identity of these communities under threat,” said Tawadkar.
He further said that CM Sawant has ssured to remove the word and hold yet another meeting to discuss the various concerns raised by the UTTA or tribal community regarding the bill.
“St Morcha welcomes this bill as it will help a lot of people. We have also suggested some changes and suggestions to bill to which CM Sawant has assured us to meet again,” he said
He further said that he was not aware that Gawada Kunbi Velip and Dhangar Federation (GAKUVED) submitted a memorandum to Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai requesting him not to grant assent to the Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021.
Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill 2021, passed in the recent assembly session, allows the state to give a dweller a house ownership to live with dignity and self respect.
