The Parishad will launch an agitation on March 19 to press their demand. A morcha of the tribals, led by Baburao Madavi, former minister, will be taken to the District Collectorate at 10.30 am. The members will stage a dharna and commence an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Collectorate at the conclusion of the morcha, Shankarrao Maraskolhe of the Parishad said in a press conference here.

Maraskolhe alleged that Shrivastava issued caste certificates to three `bogus Halbas' on March 8, under the pressure from Subodh Mohite, Shiv Sena leader. This was after the GR of March 4, 1999, holding the GR of April 24, 1985 regarding the issuance of caste certificates valid.

He said that the Collector brought pressure on Sheshrao Tekam, Deputy Collector, and forced him(Tekam) to issue bogus caste certificate to one Mamta Ninawe on December 11, 1998. He also alleged that the Collector has taken no action on the demand of the Additional Tribal Commissioner and the Deputy Director of Scheduled Tribes Caste Certificate Committee to present the records of K S Bhivapurkar and Chandrakant Parate, Deputy Collectors - both of whom, Maraskolhe alleged, - hold bogus caste certificates.

He said that these incidents prove that the Collector is protecting the `bogus Scheduled Tribes'.

The morcha would include members of Gond, Rajgond, Halba/Halbi, kolam, Pardhan, Andh and other communities. Maraskolhe said that a fast-unto-death agitation will be launched from April 1, if Shrivastava is not removed from office by then.

Dinesh Madavi, Ratan Gedam, Mukund Uike, Tulsi Sidam, Manohar Yadav and others were present at the press conference.