Mapusa: Opposition Leader Michael Lobo on Sunday said that the State OBC Commission failed to do its job and expressed doubt about whether it will be able to complete the exercise of classifying the other backward classes (OBCs) as per the ‘triple test’ within the next few days.
Lobo also said that the upcoming Assembly session can go ahead despite the panchayat elections as the discussion will be on the budget which was already passed.
“I don’t think the State OBC Commission can give the data in the next eight to ten days. Even if it does, it will be haphazard. But still, if they have the data then very good. We support it…Because earlier I supported the reservation for OBC,” Lobo said.
The Leader of Opposition was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a function at Parra on Sunday.
Lobo said the State Election Commission (SEC) has already released the notification reserving wards for women, SC and ST, but without the OBC reservation because it did not get the data from the government.
He said only the State OBC Commission can do the exercise of classifying the OBCs as per the triple test criteria, but that would require some time.
“In any case, the notification is already out. It now lies with the SEC and the government of the day. Let us see what they are doing,” he said.
Incidentally, the government has maintained that raw data regarding the OBC population has already been submitted to the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes and within the next eight to ten days, the panel will submit the details of the OBC quota to the SEC.
According to the Leader of Opposition, he did not foresee curtailment of the assembly session as there is no connection between holding the assembly session and the code of conduct on account of the panchayat election.
“The budget has already been passed. We will be discussing what provisions have been made in the budget. There won’t be any new assurances made,” he said.
Lobo further said that since panchayat elections are not fought on party lines, he will extend support to good individuals and appeal to people to vote for them.
“We want good people to get elected for the development of the village,” he said.
