Sack Dhawalikars, demands UTAA, for defamatory poem
ARVIND TENGSE, MADGAO | 01 May 2013 16:47 IST
Sudin & Dipak Dhawalikar
Ministerial Dhawalikar brothers are in trouble, this time for publishing a poem, allegedly insulting the Gawada community.
Keirchya Devrambha, a book published by Madhavrao Dhawalikar Trust, has a poem which is being objected to.
United Tribals’ Association Alliance (UTAA), the organisation representing Goan tribals, has in fact demanded that Dhawalikar brothers be sacked from the cabinet due to this poem.
The Dhawalikar Trust, managed by both the brothers, have published this book, edited by Laxmi Kerkar and assisted by Sonia Kerkar.
The poem, named ‘Gawadi’, contains highly objectionable content humiliating the community, said UTAA president Prakash Velip.
The poem, not named after any poet, sounds like a folk- song language, written in old style of Konkani grammar.
UTTA has also demanded stern action against the writer (not mentioned in the book), publisher, compiler and all others responsible for the defamatory poetry.
Govind Gawade, another UTAA leader, also threatened agitation on the lines of Balli agitation, if the government fails to take action within a week.
He even went to the extent of withdrawing its support to the BJP government.
UTAA’s active member Ramesh Tawadkar is the sports minister in the present BJP government.
“We have spoken to the ministers from within our community to take up this matter at government level”, said Velip.
The UTAA leaders however expressed their satisfaction over the functioning of the BJP government.
“Out of our 12 demands, 11 are met and even budgetary provisions are made along with well-designed schemes”, said Velip.
