Margao: The Quepem unit of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) samaj has demanded that state govt take immediate steps to grant the the community political reservation in the legislative assembly on the lines of the reservation already available to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).Members of the community argued that since SCs and STs — both numerically smaller than the OBCs in Goa — have been granted assembly reservation, there was no justification for denying the same benefit to the OBCs, who constitute the largest caste group in the state.Dayesh Naik, former chairperson of the Quepem Municipal Council, said the community’s demand was rooted in a sense of parity. “When SCs and STs have got reservation, why should OBCs, who have a significant population in the state, be deprived of the same benefit?” he asked. Naik struck a warning note, hinting that the community could intensify its agitation if the demand was not addressed. “We may even take to the streets in pursuance of this demand. If we do, even the police will be outnumbered by our community members,” he said. Former Curchorem MLA Shyam Satardekar said the community had already taken up the matter with the state leadership. “We have placed our demand before the chief minister. We will also submit a representation to the BJP state president, who himself belongs to the OBC community,” he said. Satardekar added that the community would soon hold a “mahamelava” to chart its next course of action.
