Speaker directs govt to examine demands of Gowari community

Nagpur, Nov 23 (UNI) Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar today directed the state government to examine the demands of the Gowari community and initiate action.

The directive came after Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) raised the issue in the House just before the question hour. Mr Fadnavis said that it was 13 years ago on this day that 114 members of the Gowari community died in a stampede during a morcha in Nagpur to demand their inclusion among the Scheduled Tribes (ST). Although 13 years had passed after the tragedy, the government had still not initiated any action in this regard, he said.

When the Speaker wanted to know under what rule the member was raising the issue, Mr Fadnavis said that death was the biggest legislative tool. ''My tool may be wrong, but my demand is justified,'' he said.

The tragedy had occurred on November 23, 1994, during a morcha of the community in the winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature here.

UNI