Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Thursday sharpened its attack on the BJP government over the delay in implementing political reservation for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community in Goa, using the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to highlight the issue.
Speaking at a programme organised to commemorate Rajiv Gandhi at the Congress headquarters in Panaji, GPCC President Girish Chodankar said the former Prime Minister would have been “deeply saddened” to see the continued delay in granting the ST community its constitutional rights in Goa.
Chodankar alleged that despite the passage of several years, the BJP government had failed to implement ST political reservation and accused it of “playing with the sentiments” of the tribal community.
He recalled the steps taken by the UPA government in 2013 under then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh towards providing ST reservation in areas with a sizeable tribal population. Chodankar claimed that an Ordinance was brought and published in the Gazette at the time, but alleged that the process was not taken forward to implementation in Goa.
The Congress leader also raised questions over the utilisation of funds meant for the ST community. He alleged that around ₹3,200 crore allocated under the Tribal Sub-Plan had not been used for its intended purpose and was instead diverted towards other activities.
“The funds are the rightful entitlement of the ST community,” Chodankar said, alleging that their diversion amounted to a grave injustice.
He linked the issue to Rajiv Gandhi’s broader legacy of strengthening grassroots democracy and expanding political participation. Chodankar recalled that Rajiv Gandhi had pushed measures aimed at increasing representation of SC, ST, OBC communities and women in local bodies.
Senior Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Lok Sabha MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes, former MP Francisco Sardinha, MLA Carlos Alvares and other party functionaries, were present at the programme.
The Congress said the continued delay in ST political reservation remained a major issue for the community and reiterated its demand for implementation of the reservation in Goa.
