NT Reporter | Margao
Senior Scheduled Tribe (ST) leader and former education minister Prakash
Velip on Thursday called for the creation of a dedicated political party to represent Goa’s ST community, which constitutes about 12
per cent of the state’s population.
“Such a party is necessary to address the community’s specific demands and ensure effective leadership within the state’s political landscape,” said Velip.
Speaking to reporters in Margao about a programme organised by the United Tribal Associations’ Alliance – Gawda, Kunbi and Velip (UTAA-GKV), to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Velip said many prominent ST leaders had approached him expressing the need to form an exclusive political outfit for the community.
“They (ST leaders) have explained why we need a political party in Goa,”
Velip said, adding that a detailed discussion weighing all possible pros and cons was needed.
He said that until now, ST leaders and NGOs
had refrained from exerting political influence over individuals in the community, instead allowing them the freedom to support and vote for any party of their choice.
However, Velip said that sentiments were changing as their long-pending demands remained unfulfilled. These include the construction of the Tribal Bhavan, demarcation of scheduled areas, and unresolved political reservation issues. “Many now feel we must have our own political party to raise our voices and fulfil our long-pending demands,” he said.
He added that despite a central government law mandating political representation for STs, it was yet to be implemented in Goa. “If political reservation is not granted in the coming months, the community may be compelled to take the much-needed step before the 2027 Assembly elections,” he warned.
