Panaji: The Bombay high court’s interim stay on the issuance of the notification estimating Goa’s Scheduled Tribe (ST) population has dealt another setback to the long-pending demand for political reservation, said GFP on Thursday.GFP chief Vijai Sardesai said that govt has once again betrayed the original inhabitants of the state.“The chief minister and BJP ministers’ statements supporting reservation ring hollow when govt’s position in the high court has resulted in a stay on the notification. The ST community deserves clarity, accountability and action and not political posturing and empty assurances,” said the GFP chief.A day earlier, Sawant had said that providing political reservation to STs in the Goa assembly is nearing completion, with a notification reserving four constituencies likely to be issued in Dec.The petition before the HC had sought to restrain the Census Commissioner of India from notifying the estimated ST population in Goa. The petitioner argued that determining the ST population through estimation and using it to readjust assembly representation is contrary to constitutional provisions. Finalising the population of the ST community is key to the process of notifying the constituencies that will be reserved for ST candidates in the state legislative assembly.Sardesai urged the ST community to unite and assert its constitutional rights through a united, determined and democratic protest movement.“The future of Goa’s original inhabitants cannot be held hostage to political convenience. Their legitimate demand for political representation must not be reduced to another unfulfilled promise,” said Sardesai.The GFP chief said that political reservation is not a favour for the ST community but their right.“It is a question of justice, representation and dignity,” he said.
