n Congress demands discussion, tells Speaker to ignore rule book n Speaker refuses, says no adjournment motion moved ON FRIDAY n Parrikar steps in, tells Opposition fish import has been banned
the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Goa Legislative Assembly couldn’t conduct any business for the second straight day, on Friday, as a resurgent Opposition Congress continued to press for discussion on ‘formalin in fish’ issue in the House even as the Speaker of the House, Pramod Sawant refused to entertain their demand quoting the rule book.
As soon as the legislators assembled in the House for the day’s business, Speaker, Pramod Sawant called for the Question Hour and requested Bicholim MLA, Rajesh Patnekar to read his question.
But the Leader of Opposition, Babu Kavlekar interrupted the Speaker and renewed his previous day’s demand for a discussion on the “important fish issue”.
“We have to keep all the other business of the House by the side and take up the important issue of pollution of fish. Don’t play with the life of the people in Goa,” said Kavlekar addressing the Speaker’s chair.
Joining him was Navelim and Curtorim MLAs, Luizinho Faleiro and Aliexo Reginald Lourenco respectively, who also made fervent requests to the Chair.
The Speaker, however, was not amused and rejected their demand stating that the Congress had failed to move any resolution on Friday.
“You had given an adjournment motion yesterday. As per the rules, if you wanted the discussion today, you should have brought the motion today too. Don’t waste the time of the House,” Sawant said amidst the rising din of the Opposition MLAs.
Supporting the Speaker’s contention, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that since the Opposition had failed to move any adjournment motion on Friday their demand was hollow.
“There is no adjournment motion placed by you today (on Friday). Yesterday’s time is gone. Bond kelem mure nustem (We have banned fish),” Parrikar said in his inimitable style.
All the other Congress MLAs also joined in demanding discussion on the previous day’s adjournment motion.
The lone NCP MLA, Churchill Alemao also stood up and gesticulated towards the Speaker and spoke in support of the Congress demand.
In the melee, some ruling party MLAs also began shouting on top of their voice saying, “We want Question Hour.”
The Leader of the Opposition appealed to the Speaker to ignore the rule book and in the interest of the Goans to take up the formalin in fish
What Congress has done is right: Lobo
PANAJI: Deputy Speaker, Michael Lobo, on Friday expressed his agreement with the strategy of the Opposition Congress by which they disallowed the functioning of the Monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly seeking discussion on the fish laced with Formalin imbroglio.
“I agree with what they have done,” Lobo said with reference to Congress MLAs insisting that all other business be dropped to first discuss the ‘formalin in fish’ issue.
“Why should this issue be an Opposition issue or BJP issue? This is an issue that concerns all,” Lobo went on to add in comments that could deeply embarrass his Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling coalition.
Known to be outspoken and politically unorthodox, Lobo also went on to add that pesticides and chemicals used in food material is a serious problem that affects Goans as well as tourists who visit the state in large numbers and that safety had to be ensured. >> See pg 3
