PANAJI
Cracks in the Opposition camp were wide open on Tuesday, after Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Revolutionary Goans Party (RG) skipped the crucial joint Opposition meeting convened by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao to discuss strategies for the upcoming monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai and RG MLA Viresh Borkar gave a miss to the meeting, which according to them was a mere formality. The meeting was attended by Congress MLAs -- Adv Carlos Ferreira and Alton D’Costa -- and AAP legislators Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva.
Addressing a press conference post meeting, Alemao clarified that the meeting invite was sent to all the Opposition MLAs and the agenda was to work out a joint strategy against the failed administrative governance of the BJP government.
He said that leaving all political differences, the Opposition needs to come together to expose BJP.
"Goa and Goans are watching us, and they will scrutinize our actions. I have no personal agenda; I am straight and clean. I have no linen to wash in public," Alemao said.
“Whether someone has come or not (for the meeting), I feel, we are seven Opposition MLAs, who will have to put up a strong joint fight against BJP to expose their misdeeds on every front,” he said.
“See, it is very clear, that one has to be either in ruling or in the Opposition. A MLA cannot be a neutral player,” he said.
Alemao highlighted that Congress MLAs had submitted over 750 Legislative Assembly Questions (LAQs), and AAP MLAs had also submitted many LAQs to get replies on various issues affecting the state.
He added that they had discussed strategies for Zero Hour, Calling Attention, Private Members' Resolution, and Question Hour.
On Sunday, Sardesai had publicly dismissed a joint Opposition meeting describing it as a “mere formality.”
Meanwhile, AAP MLA Venzy Viegas stated that the Opposition MLAs were united to scrutinize the BJP government in the upcoming assembly session. "If Goa is first for us, then we should all come together. This meeting was convened as per the tradition of past conventions, which was fruitful," Viegas said.
Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira emphasized that Opposition MLAs should get the time to raise public issues. "This is the beginning of our strategy; we will meet again and discuss. Everyone should support us to fight for the cause," Carlos said.
