The decision of the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly not to allow a private members’ bill in the Assembly on the issue of installation of a statue of Dr. Jack de Sequeira in the Legislative Assembly Complex at Porvorim is not befitting a Speaker who should be neutral and unbiased.
The equation for the passing of the resolution in the Assembly was quiet clear. Considering that GFP’s three legislators were going to vote in favour of the statue, the numbers said it all.
There are 16 Congress MLAs, 3 GFP MLAs and Churchill Alemao who were going to vote in favour which brings the total number of MLAs in favour of the resolution to 20.
Since the Speaker does not have a vote except in case of a tie, it would mean that for the first time the BJP government would have lost face.
This is considering Michael Lobo voted against the motion. In such a scenario, the Speaker’s decision to not allow the private members bill from being allowed is a clear case of partisan politics.
This decision is totally unbecoming of a Speaker in the highest traditions of democracy.
Will the Speaker give reason for his not allowing this Bill from being introduced?
The people are waiting for a follow-up on this issue and each leader is being put to the test about their utterances and promises.
Stephen Dias, Dona Paula
