PANAJI: Opposition legislators led by LoP Yuri Alemao staged a protest in the Assembly today after alleging that the Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Bill moved by them was not permitted for discussion, leading to repeated disruptions and adjournments of the House.
Members of the Opposition, dressed in black, raised slogans such as “shame”, “band karo, band karo, hukumshahi band karo” and displayed placards inside the House. The MLAs rushed to the Well of the House while demanding that the Bill be taken up.
As the protests intensified, Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar ordered the marshalling out of the protesting MLAs. The House was first adjourned for 10 minutes.
When proceedings resumed, Opposition members again gathered in the Well and questioned why the Goa Protection for Agriculture Bill was not allowed to be introduced. Responding to the protests, Gaonkar said, “This is not democracy; you need to allow the Speaker to address.”
Opposition MLAs continued raising slogans of “Karo Ya Maro”, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House again.
Proceedings of the Goa Legislative Assembly resumed amid continued protests by the Opposition, with members once again gathering in the Well of the House and raising slogans. As the ruckus persisted, Gaonkar adjourned the session for the third time till 1 pm.
Meanwhile, the Opposition claimed that a total of 16 Bills moved by them were not permitted in the Assembly. According to them, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar had moved six Bills, GFP Chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai moved five, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas moved three, while Velim MLA Cruz Silva and Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira had moved one Bill each.
