UTAA meets CM, defends Gaude’s controversial remarks

Margao: The United Tribals Associations’ Alliance (UTAA) has come out strongly in defence of art and culture minister Govind Gaude over the controversy surrounding his outbursts purportedly aimed at the chief minister. Gaude is also a senior functionary of UTAA and a prominent leader of the tribal community.

“Gaude’s remarks were intended to point out how the tribal welfare department was not functioning as desired. The tribal bhavan project saw no progress for the last three years since its foundation stone was laid, despite the chief minister giving clear directions to expedite it. Obviously, Gaude’s remarks were borne out of this frustration. But his remarks were misconstrued to be aimed at the chief minister,” UTAA president Prakash Velip said.

Gaude, on Sunday, while addressing a function at Ponda organised by the tribal welfare department, raised serious questions about administrative efficiency and transparency in the department, which is directly overseen by chief minister Pramod Sawant. “A huge amount of taxpayers’ money is allotted to the tribal welfare department. If it’s unable to organise this programme efficiently, then it only shows a lack of control over the administration,” Gaude said at the event held at Ponda. Gaude also alleged behind-the-scenes operations and criticised the department’s handling of contractors’ files, hinting at corruption.

On Tuesday, a delegation of UTAA met chief minister Pramod Sawant and presented Gaude’s side of the story, as the minister is currently out of the state. “We laid bare the facts before the chief minister—that Gaude said absolutely nothing against the CM in his address, and that his remarks were only intended to help improve the functioning of the tribal welfare department by pointing out its shortcomings,” Velip said, adding that the chief minister gave them a patient hearing. Velip said that he also spoke to BJP president Damodar Naik over the issue.

“Gaude has given his all for the cause of the tribal community; he suffered imprisonment, bore beatings, all for the welfare of the tribes,” Velip said.

UTAA has pledged the support of the state’s tribal community to Gaude.