PANAJI
The climbdown in the Goa legislative assembly, meanwhile, continues to haunt the Pramod Sawant government several days after the monsoon session ended.
If Lobo's 'all is not well" comment had a jarring effect in the ruling camp, what came later in the form of Khaunte's remarks in an interview to Prudent TV, had even greater impact.
Khaunte virtually launched a direct attack on the Law department for the bills withdrawal fiasco saying the Law department needed a total overhaul blaming it for drafting errors and shoddy work.
"It is time that responsibility is fixed on errant officers,” Khaunte added.
Sequeira hits back
Not one to take Khaunte’s attack lying down, Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Aleixo Sequeira hit back saying the job of the law department is only to ensure that whatever Bill comes, is as per law.
Sequeira said the department does not have the mandate to scrutinise the intent of the department moving the bill.
"Our job is to see whether it fits within the law or not," Sequeira said, arguing that the Bills were withdrawn either due to the demands of the MLAs or at the instance of the relevant minister.
"The Law department has done its duty and vetted the Bills as per the existing laws. The rest is the responsibility of the department that has moved those Bills.”
