Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings of Goa Legislative Assembly are turning out to be mere formalities with the Opposition, on most occasions, crying hoarse of being given a raw deal or not being considered in the scheme of things. On Tuesday, Opposition MLAs staged a walkout from the BAC meeting objecting to a 20-minute time restriction during the crucial Demand for Grants discussion. They claimed that this move will severely limit their ability to raise deeper issues like corruption, law and order, and public welfare.
The Opposition has been in disagreement over several issues at the BAC meetings in the past, including the decision to curtail sessions. And one hears the same tone of Opposition repeatedly calling it an attempt to 'systematically' curtail the voices of Opposition.
The trend is not unique to Goa, but has been prevalent in many other States and the Parliament too. In April this year, Opposition members walked out of the BAC meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla alleging that the government was bulldozing its agenda and not listening to them. The contention was that the government did not allow a comprehensive discussion on the Waqf Amendment Act and neither did it accede to the request for a proper time allocation for the resolution of President’s rule in Manipur. The Opposition charged that the House had become subservient to the government and the whims of “the political masters” were reflected in the BAC meeting.
These are not healthy signs of a democracy because such manoeuvres threaten the very foundations of transparency and democratic discourse. Curtailing speaking time, questioning submissions, or rejecting critical reports signals a shift towards authoritarianism under the guise of administrative efficiency. Such practices scuttle the role of elected representatives, and also erode the right of citizens to hold the government accountable. The underlying motive appears to be an attempt to control the narrative and prevent scrutiny.
Democratic governance thrives on plurality, debate, and accountability. Governments of the day need to exhibit courage to face critical questions and bring clarity, especially when there is haze around. When opposition members are denied adequate time or are outright silenced, the government is unfair to the people represented by these MLAs.
On the flip side, several MLAs have been encashing on the liberty of speech inside the hallowed precincts of the Legislative Assembly and engaging in rhetoric by conspicuously playing to the galleries. Very often legislators are not only seen exchanging personal jibes but also deviating from legislative processes in a frantic attempt to get eyeballs. The Legislative Assembly cannot be used as a political playground to settle scores, but to constructively debate public issues and policies.
The solution lies in fostering an environment where opposing voices are valued within the parameters of legislative business. The treasury benches versus the opposition have been a never-ending tussle of supremacy no matter the number. Goa has a minuscule Opposition which, at this point, does not appear united in any sense. The restrictions appear unwarranted. The ruling benches, given the strength, should have been confident enough to face accountability, especially in the wake of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s categorical response a few months back that all his ministers have performed well.
It's time the government finds the right balance and upholds the true spirit of democracy.
