Panaji: Aam Admi Party’s first ever victory in the electoral politics is on a sticky wicket after its ZP winning candidate Hanzel Fernandes is accused of providing false caste certificate claiming himself to be “Chari Mesta.”
Congress leader Royla Fernandes has filed a petition before Deputy Collector of Margao challenging the certificate, which she claims was “invalid.”
If Royla wins the case, Hanzel will be disqualified from the seat for providing invalid certificate.
He is the first ever AAP candidate to win in any of the election.
The petition filed before Deputy Collector by Royla reads “he (Hanzel) belongs to Christian Religion.”
“The Central list of scheduled list of OBC for the state of Goa specifies which OBC caste includes Christian community, namely Christian Dhobies, Christian Mhalo, Christian Kharvi, Christian Kumbar, Christian Mahar and Christian Renders.
“In the gazette notifications stated in the caste certificate of Hanzel Feliciano Fernandes, which dated from 10 September 1993 to 25/06/2009, and based on which Hanzel was issued the caste certificate do not mention declaration of Chari/Mesta caste in the scheduled list of OBC.”
Royla has said “further, Chari/Mesta was included in the scheduled list of OBC for Goa in 2014vide notification 12015/05/2011-BC II dated 17-02-2014. The said notification is not mentioned in the caste certificate of Hanzel.
“The said notification did not specify Christian Chari/Mesta. Hence it cannot be assumed or declared that Christian Chari/Mesta are reserved OBC caste in the State of Goa.” she said.
Royla has demanded that the said caste certificate be declared as null and void.
If authorities consider the plea of Royla, than Hanzel’s election as ZP member will be considered as invalid.
